All decisions on the minimum wage were made in the governing coalition in December 2023 and budget expenditures did not increase, on Monday said prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, during a visit to the 16 Februarie market in northern Bucharest.
It was decided on 15 December in the coalition, that the minimum wage grow to 3,300 RON from 1 January, and to 3,700 RON from 1 June, premier Ciolacu said, adding that the decision was made together with the social partners, the trade unions. In other words, I respected this decision, he added, when asked in the 16 Februarie market to comments on the fact that the Liberals say they were not consulted on raising the minimum wage.
The prime minister was also asked how he responds to PNL representatives who claim that budget expenditures have increased and that they should be reduced.
„Today, at 3 p.m., I called (Finance minister) Mr. Bolos. The fiscal policy in a normal state is done by the minister of Finance, together with the Government. But I, Marcel Ciolacu, Prime Minister of Romania, will not accept that the Government’s activity is fully coordinated and decided in a political coalition, because we return to the experience we had in the PNL-USR (National Liberal Party – Save Romania Union) coalition. (…) We have no increase in spending. The increase in spending, I tell you once again, it’s normal, yes, in the last month, there were expenses of almost 70 billion. Folks, we moved (paid up front, ed. n.) pensions, it’s 0.5% of GDP. What do you expect me to say, that it’s a catastrophe when it was predictable that spending would increase by having people get their pensions before Easter?! When it comes to spending, let’s see exactly what each chapter is about. Did you see in front of any ministry, were lockers carried?! Because I didn’t see. I gave the right for the High Court of Cassation and Justice to have a venue. It can only work with furniture. I think we have made the right decision, we are talking about the High Court of Cassation and Justice, we are not talking about a seat for a minor institution in a state governed by the rule of law. It is not normal from a safety point of view (for the ICCJ, Supreme Court, ed. n.) to work in a rented building,” Marcel Ciolacu added.
AGERPRES
