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Presidential spokesperson Madalina Dobrovolschi on Thursday commented recent statements by Chairman of the Romanian Senate, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on fuel prices, saying about him that he is "out of touch with economic reality." "He seems simply out of touch with reality, even with economic reality, which is very strange for a former prime minister. For example, he tells us plainly that the fuel prices have remained unchanged after the excise duty was reintroduced. Mr Tariceanu, you can find out the truth simply by asking any Romanian, any citizen who have bought fuel these days and who had to take more money out of their pockets," Dobrovolschi told journalists at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
Senate Chairman Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said on Thursday he had not seen any increase in fuel prices after reintroducing the excise duty. Asked if the ruling coalition was discussing the wave of price increases announced on Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Tariceanu replied: "The INS has said that it was coming, but I did not see any increase in fuel prices. Some price increases or decreases have occurred. I do not know if you have a car, do you go to the gas station to buy gasoline or diesel? No. It's a shame, because I do. There are some very big price differences, as high as 10 percent between prices charged by distribution networks and those charged by filling stations, for example in Bucharest, other areas of the country, in Bucharest and outside cities, so what are we talking about? "
He added that given the circumstances, the coalition did not discuss the issue. "We have not talked about it. What's there to talk about? If oil prices rise, there will be more predictable price increases, if they decline, there will probably be no price cuts, because oil companies increase their profit margins in such instances. This is a market economy," Tariceanu said.
