Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu expressed hope that the 2025 state budget draft will clear Parliament on Thursday, noting that without it Romania would "suffer greatly".
"I hope that tomorrow we will have the budget approved, so that we keep within the calendar estimated by the floor leaders and the presidents of the two Houses. I think we all agree that, without a duly adopted state budget, Romania would suffer greatly - I am talking about salaries, pensions, European funds. After yesterday's talks with several foreign investors, we came up with a budget that keeps within the pledged deficit of 7%. The budget deficit worsened last year, which is explainable through the major investments in co-financing, especially for road projects, where we have reached as much as 60% in co-financing; we all know how badly both Romania and the entire region needs the Moldova motorway," Ciolacu said on Wednesday in Parliament.
He added that many projects were included in the 'Anghel Saligny' Program, and that "this is not money destined for mayors, but money for the living standards of the Romanians and of rural residents. That program was estimated at RON 65 billion over four years."
According to Ciolacu, Romania entered 2025 with less debt than the previous year and "therefore, with an increase in revenues from 27 to 29.6% of GDP. We are determined, and it is a reality that we can meet the 7% deficit, having still RON 150 billion earmarked for investments, which means 7.8% of Romania's GDP. It would be an extraordinary accomplishment after we invested 7% last year."
The prime minister mentioned that "the energy bill support will not be scrapped, especially in vulnerable areas", but that a discussion with the entire market needs to take place.
"Even though we are already so close to elections, and the World Bank already has the first draft prepared for the fiscal reform, the measures laid out there will not be applied this year. VAT increases are out of question, we are talking about a rebalancing in terms of labor and capital taxation, but we will come to the details when we pass the law with the fiscal measures. (...) First, the budget needs to clear Parliament and then, together with the labor minister, we will design this program," stated the head of the government.
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