President Nicusor Dan said on Monday, when asked if the commitment not to raise VAT was still valid, that „the discussion on tax reform starts from that statement”, mentioning that discussions with the European Commission are underway and that he is very optimistic that the Brussels executive will give „credit” to the new power in Bucharest.

Asked in Parliament, after taking the oath of office as president, whether the pledge that he would not raise VAT and whether there could be tax increases in the coming period, Nicusor Dan said: „The discussion on tax reform starts from that declaration”.

On the possibility that Romania may have its Cohesion Policy Programme and NRRP payments suspended if measures are not taken by June 4, Nicusor Dan said that „discussions are underway with the European Commission”.

„”I am very, very optimistic that the people there give credit to the new power in Bucharest, because you cannot do in a few days what has not been done in a few years. The risk is not… until the European funds, the discussion is far away. The problem is our credibility on the financial markets and in the investment area. The problem is the high interest rate we are paying at the moment. And what we need to do is to provide a plan, as I said, 2025-2026, which will result in reducing the deficit and give a stability plan,” explained Nicusor Dan.

He also said that he does not want to discuss the past on this issue.

„If we discuss about the past, we go into an electoral zone, accusations, who spent, who increased. I don’t want to discuss that. However, if we have been promising the European Commission for three years, I think we have a few weeks now, given this change of direction, to correct things,” said Nicusor Dan.

Asked whether the parties need to come up with new ministers, the newly-elected president mentioned that „it would be good if the people that Romanians see are not exactly the ones they rejected at the polls, of course”.

On participating in government meetings, Nicusor Dan replied: „Whenever it is necessary, yes, but I believe that we will have a very good cooperation with the Government”.

AGERPRES