Constitutional Court To Discuss 2019 Budget Challenge On March 6

During the meeting, constitutional judges are also set to discuss a bill capping several indicators in 2019 budget project, also challenged by Iohannis on Friday.

The Romanian head of state challenged the bill on Friday, calling it a „budget of national shame” and criticizing the country’s Government for ignoring issues in health, education and infrastructure.

The president argued that the budget disregards EU commitments, fundamental rights and the principles of decentralization and subsidiarity.

“The budget of national shame not only endangers Romania’s economy, but has clear aspects of unconstitutionality. It does not respect obligations Romania committed towards the EU, of which it is part of. Some fundamental rights are infringed, the role of the Fiscal Council was ignored, it harms the principles of decentralization and subsidiarity,” the president said.

The Romanian Parliament passed the 2019 budget bill last Friday.

The adopted budget plan is built on a deficit target of 2.76% of gross domestic product, below the EU limit of 3%, and an economic growth projection of 5.5%.

The budget created controversies with Romanian municipality mayors over a new spending share, which sees local administrations take on some of the Government’s previous spending, and also due to a last-minute opposition amendment which increased child allowances, with the ruling party deciding to raise the deficit targe from 2.55 to 2.76% of GDP.