Press Review - October 2, 2015

10.02.2015 By Gabriela Stan

Wage Hikes To Push Romania's Budget Deficit To Over 4% - Fiscal Council

Romania's budget deficit could stand at 2.2% of GDP next year, following the impact of the country's new tax code, but planned wage hikes in the public sector may push the deficit to more than 4%, Fiscal Council president Ionut Dumitru said Thursday.

Considering the impact of the new tax code, which entails several cuts, most notable in the value-added tax, the country could have a deficit of 2.2% next year.

However, if approved as intended by the government, public sector wage hikes could drive the deficit to over 4%, as their impact would be RON5.5 billion, meaning more than 2% of GDP, explained Dumitru. (Puterea)

 

Romania Mulls Resuming Economic Relations With Islamic Republic Of Iran

Romania wants to resume the economic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, despite the country’s relation with NATO and the European Union and the international economic sanctions.

An official Iranian delegation came to Bucharest on September 30 and was received at the headquarters of the Ministry of Energy, SMEs and Business Environment by Bogdan Badea, state secretary in the Energy Ministry, “together with other officials of the institution”, the Energy Ministry announced.
 

The talks focused on “resuming commercial exchanges and traditional economic relations between the two countries, affected by the international sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran and by UN and EU decisions starting with 2012,” said the Energy Ministry. (Romania Libera)

 

Former President Traian Basescu Could Run For Bucharest Mayor

Former President Traian Basescu has not denied the possibility to run for the position of Bucharest mayor, saying that in politics, one has to do “the right thing”.

“I don’t know how Elena Udrea came up with this possibility. I’m not saying yes or no. We have just started building a party here. I don’t think that somebody who was the President of Romania can get into a local competition but in politics (…) one has to do “the right thing”. Nevertheless, there’s a long way to go,” said Basescu.

Former President Traian Basescu has served as Bucharest mayor for two mandates. (Evenimentul Zilei)

 

Over 80% Of Romanians Disagree With Tax Hike – INSCOP Poll

Over 80% of the Romanians disagree with the increase of taxes and only 1 in 10 Romanians (13.2%) would agree to such a measure if they were assured that the funds would go to health, education and infrastructure sectors, according to an opinion poll by INSCOP.

Such a reaction was not a surprise given the fiscal pressure experienced by Romanians, on one hand, and the faulty spending of the funds going to the state budget from taxes and fees, on the other hand. (Adevarul)

 

Romania Could Ban Smoking In Closed Public Spaces

The Romanian Society of Pneumology has asked for legislative measures for banning smoking in closed public spaces, at work, in parks, on the beach, at playgrounds and sports spaces, according to the president of the Romanian Society of Pneumology, Florin Mihaltan.

Mihaltan said that Romania needs a law to protect people from cigarette smoke, as 73% of Romanians are non-smokers, adding that the main causes of death in Romania are due to diseases caused or aggravated by smoking, such as cardiovascular diseases (e.n. - 60% of annual deaths versus 48% the EU average), cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. (Puterea)