Interim Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Sorin Grindeanu stated on Monday that, from the social-democrats’ perspective, Package 3 of measures under discussion within the governing coalition should include not only reforms of local and central administration but also an economic recovery component.

„From our perspective, Package 3 should cover local administration, central administration, and, of course, what we will tomorrow present to coalition partners – our proposals for economic recovery. As you know, and as we have publicly announced for some time, it is essential, in our view, that Package 3, which relates to local and central administration, also includes the economic recovery part,” Grindeanu said at the end of the PSD National Permanent Bureau meeting.

Asked whether PSD agrees that Package 3 should also include other measures, such as banning the cumulation of pensions with state salaries, introducing retirement at a fixed age for certain „special” categories as for magistrates, and halving the unemployment period, Grindeanu replied:

„We agree that this should be roughly the last package. From the first assumption in Parliament, we said this is an exceptional route. Normally, you would go through the full legislative process in Parliament, but we can understand these exceptional situations. Package 3 must include these issues, which ultimately also relate to a certain social justice. And I agree – matters concerning salary and pension cumulation, excesses, and the other components you mentioned. It is essential that if we are talking about local administration, we also talk about central administration. And here we speak of reducing expenditures, which must guide us. PSD will never be pressured into imposed decisions. No matter the pressures – whether from USR [Save Romania Union], PNL [the National Liberal Party], the Government, or others – PSD will always make decisions internally, taking into account the needs of the people, not what someone else says,” Grindeanu stated. AGERPRES