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Romanian Liberals Will Not Endorse President’s Austerity Plan In Parliament – Party Head

Romanian opposition liberal leader Crin Antonescu said Monday that his party will not endorse President Basescu’s austerity plan in Parliament and that if the President wants to combat corruption and bureaucracy, he and Prime Minister Emil Boc should resign.
Romanian Liberals Will Not Endorse President’s Austerity Plan In Parliament – Party Head
10 mai 2010, 13:55, English

After the party’s standing office meeting, Antonescu said liberals will criticize Basescu’s plan both in public and in Parliament. He added that his party will only engage in talks with a technocratic government, which would take responsibility for „harsh measures to cut back on state budget expenditure”.

The liberal leader said the time for political debates has passed and the president should act on his statements against corruption, clientelism and bureaucracy by resigning. According to Antonescu, Basescu and Boc are unfit for reforming Romania.

Central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said last week that a technocratic Government would not help Romania’s economy come out of recession.

Basescu said Thursday, after talks with International Monetary Fund officials, that, instead of increasing flat tax and VAT levels, pensions will decrease by 15% and salary funds in the public sector by 25%. The minimum wage, unemployment aid and state subsidies will also be reduced.

On April 20, Antonescu and social democrat head Victor Ponta agreed to file a no-confidence motion against Romania’s ruling power. The text of the motion was completed last week by the social democrats and will be submitted to Parliament.