2019 Budget Talks Continue For Third Consecutive Day

Romania’s ruling PSD-ALDE coalition held a third meeting on the subject in as many days at the Parliament on Wednesday, following which PSD leader Liviu Dragnea and Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici departed to attend a meeting of the Romanian Association of Municipalities (AMR).

The discussions come as representatives of local authorities are unhappy with a new proposed spending share, which sees them take on some of the Government’s expenses in areas such as social services.

Arriving at the meeting, Dragnea told journalists that he “came to listen” when asked if he will propose a solution for the issues raised by mayors.

Also present at the AMR meeting was Bucharest Mayor Gabriela Firea, who vehemently criticized the budget and decried income cuts towards her town hall, also pledging to challenge the act in court if it is passed in the form launched last week into public debate by the Finance Ministry.

According to political sources, latest talks also revolved around the sums collected from income tax for every county, with the Government currently proposing a 60-15 split between town halls and county councils respectively, with 20% reserved for local budget balancing and 5% to be equally distributed towards all counties by the Finance Ministry.

Other sources told MEDIAFAX on Monday that the Government is now aiming to pass the budget in a cabinet meeting set for Friday, despite initial information that the act would be adopted on Tuesday.

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