The Save Romania Union (USR) opposes tax increases and does not suggest tax increases, the party’s interim president, Dominic Fritz, said on Wednesday.
„There are many versions and discussions out in the open about what is being discussed in the working groups, and I would like to bring some perspectives and clarifications, because, unfortunately, not all of them are true. (…) At the same time, it must be clear to everyone that there are also very clear lines for USR that we follow in these negotiations. We will not allow these negotiations to become a joke of Radio Yerevan and in this sense, I say very clearly that USR opposes tax increases, does not suggest tax increases. Because I have seen certain information, based on sources, about such proposals that are clearly false,” Fritz said at a news conference at the Palace of Parliament.
He added that the „filling the hole in the budget” must be done on the basis of the principle of justice, because that is what Romanians expect.
„This principle of justice must be the basis of the proposals and discussions and measures we take to control the deficit. It is very clear that this is what is supported by USR. USR supports the elimination of some indecent pay bonuses. USR supports the merger of bodies that have no purpose. The President has just mentioned that there are seven autonomous bodies in each county at the Ministry of Agriculture. Do you know that there is a territorial inspectorate for seed quality in each county? There is no reason why these cannot be done, for example, within the veterinary-sanitary directorates, for example. So, we support the merger of some bodies precisely so that we do not have the administrative apparatus so inflated. We also clearly support staff cuts where sinecures have now been employed, where there are, I don’t know, I give an example at ANCOM, where 70% makes up the ancillary staff for the 30% who actually fulfil the institution’s attributions,” he said.
He also mentioned that USR also supports floating on the stock exchange shares in some state-owned companies.
„The state should keep the majority, but there is no reason why, for example, Hidroelectrica could not increase the package listed on the stock exchange from 20% to 30%, 40%, 45%. And we even suggest that the revenues from these listings be used in a fund for strategic investment, paid, co-financed from the national budget for which there is now a lack of money. If I talk about investment, of course we will also have to have a review of the list of investment projects. There are very important investment projects for infrastructure, schools, hospitals, but there could certainly be investment that is not urgent and that can be postponed, staggered and so that we can still cover part of the hole this year,” he concluded.
AGERPRES
