PSD's Dragnea: G'vt should take serious measures regarding banks' greed, ROBOR evolution

Social Democratic party (PSD) chairman Liviu Dragnea stated at the sitting of the PSD National Council on Sunday that the banking system does not support the Romanian economy, that in our country there are the biggest differences between interest rates on loans and those on deposits and demanded that the Government take measures against the banks' "greed". 

"The banking system is a system from which any country and any nation expects to support the economy. It means the banks should make profits, God help, but they should make profits by supporting the economy, because you think: if they support the economy, it develops, they have more customers, so they will make even more money! They do not support the economy. And I say that the Government should take serious measures regarding the banks' greed and the evolution of ROBOR. Because we, as a gentle and good-faith people, are looking at the big banks playing among themselves and setting the interest that the Romanians have to pay. (...) So the banking system does not support the economy, it is well below the European average and (...) we have the biggest differences between interest rates on loans and deposits. The difference is 7pct in Romania, given that this the difference in the EU is 2.1pct. And there, the banking system supports the economy, which is not the case in Romania. You wonder, 'How do they make profit if they do not support the economy?' On the ROBOR game, which they establish among themselves," the PSD leader said. 

Dragnea added that this year the banking system in Romania had a profit of 5.6 billion lei and voiced the hope that the Government will take this week measures to limit the "greed" in the system. 

The PSD leader also said that "under the pretext of liberalization," energy and gas companies intend to trigger new price rises and added that he wants fair and honest rules in this area. 

"I do not want to nationalize them (...) I want us to establish fair and honest rules," he said. 

Dragnea has also referred to mobile phone companies as well as gambling. 

"I believe that the Government headed by Mrs. Viorica Dancila no longer has to tolerate such behavior, and from here, from the National Council, I demand that you intervene urgently. Look at gambling, for instance. There is now a tax on profit. A very good measure but they are not profitable, but look at their turnover! (...) And with mobile companies, (...) when we talk about the taxes they have to pay, they should pay as it is right, in Romania," added Dragnea.