RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The new Victor Ponta cabinet

Approved by Parliament a week ago, the third Ponta cabinet is now to implement the updated political platform on which the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate gave their vote of confidence. There are no big differences from the previous platform proposed after the 2012 legislative elections, despite the fact the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians has replaced the National Liberal Party in the government.

, 12.03.2014, 13:57



For the next two years and a half, the new government, which also includes the Social Democrats, the Conservatives and the National Union for the Progress of Romania, will implement the same principles on which the 2014 budget is founded. The 16% flat tax rate will be maintained, and priorities will include the reduction of social security contributions and the introduction of a tax exemption for reinvested profits.



According to prime minister Victor Ponta, contributions paid by employers to social security funds will be slashed by 5%, the VAT will be lowered from 24% to 19%, and the VAT for basic foodstuffs will be further reduced. All these measures, however, will be taken only when the fiscal framework allows it. The prime minister also urged MPs to resist the temptation of taking populist measures this year. Victor Ponta:



“Let us not make the same mistake we all made in 2009 before the presidential elections, when we raised people’s expectations and made all kinds of promises before heading straight for disaster in 2010.”



The Liberal leader Crin Antonescu, however, sees the action programme of the third Ponta Cabinet as vague and election-driven:



“Even a statement of principles and intentions must contain very specific elements. We basically don’t know whether these measures can be implemented and when. They speak about some measures being taken when the fiscal framework allows it. I say they should then create a budgetary framework that allows the things they promised.”



The Liberals say, however, they will not table a motion of censure in the near future, unlike the Liberal Democrats, who have drawn up the content of such as a motion. The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Vasile Blaga:



“If you look at what the prime minister says, you see he promises few things this time. To do more, he says he needs more support. So instead of looking at the available resources and establishing his goals depending on these resources, in areas like investments and the reduction in social contributions and VAT reduction, he just says maybe.”



However, the Liberal Democrats don’t have the minimum required number of signatories to initiate the censure motion without the support of the Liberals, but the latter announced they would wait at least until May to make up their minds.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Source: NATO)
Today in the News Tuesday, 05 November 2024

NATO must stay united

NATO will work with the winner of the US elections, whoever that person may be and will do its best to stay united, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte...

NATO must stay united
Maia Sandu (Photo: presedinte.md)
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a new  4-year term in Sunday’s second round run-off, with over 55% of the votes cast in the...

Moldova stays on path to Europe
The head of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Toni Grebla
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Election campaigns in Romania

    The campaign for the general election in Romania started last week, at midnight on Thursday, and will end on 30 November. During this...

Election campaigns in Romania
November 1 - National Radio Day
Today in the News Friday, 01 November 2024

Radio Romania 96

Radio Romania has celebrated 96 years since it first entered the listeners houses from Romania and abroad. On November 1 1928 the Romanians were able...

Radio Romania 96
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company