State budget, adopted by Parliament

Romanian senators and deputies have passed the state budget and social security budget bills for 2023.

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Corina Cristea, 15.12.2022, 14:00

Less than a week since being green lighted by the Government, the state budget bill and social security budget bills have been passed by Parliament in a version close to the one proposed by the Executive. The legal procedure unfolded at a fast pace, enjoying the support of deputies and senators in the ruling coalition. Only a small number of amendments were accepted, while the Oppositions proposals, consisting in additional budget allocations, have been rejected. It is a realistic budget, that removes vulnerabilities from the economy and allocates considerable amounts for investment, representatives of the ruling coalition have said.

Some 7.2% of the GDP will go to investments. The budget, built on flat tax and not on progressive taxation, will help Romanians get through winter easier, the Liberals have said. Liberal PM Nicolae Ciuca: “We will continue to focus on supporting the business environment, on investment and on the protection of citizens and voulnerable categories. “

It is a balanced budget, a budget that has economic growth and a deficit on the decrease, a budget that forecasts record investments, the Social Democrats said. Expenses for voulnerable categories, subsidies for the energy bills, programs for young people and increases in pensions and salaries are also stipulated. PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu: “We have a budget before the year-end, which is a first. As of this moment, local authorities can make investment plans, starting January 1st.”

Nevertheless, the Opposition sees things differently and criticizes the budget, which they see as being unrealistic and lacking vision. “It is a budget that deceives us, just as you did last year when you included in it, just like you do now, overestimated revenues, to make room for exaggerated increases in expenditure,” USR representatives said. USR leader, Catalin Drula: “A deceiving and inflationist budget, which will put gas on fire in the context of the ever rising prices. I have given a firmly negative vote to this budget of priviledged people. “

From the perspective of AUR, another Opposition party, the current budget is not a budget able to develop the country and help it recover, but one that should cover the deficit. AUR leader, George Simion: “We struggle to add 2 more lei to pensions, 1 leu to salaries and repair, out of 100 bridges, one or two. Nothing for reindustrialization, nothing for new energy facilities. “

The 2023 state budget is built on an estimated growth rate of 2.8% of the GDP and an annual inflation rate of 8%, at the end of 2023. Pensions are set to go up by 12.5% and the minimum wage to stand at around 600 euros. Also, financial aid for low-income people has been included in the budget. (EE)