While PSD suggests that he could leave the government, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan avoids public disputes and reminds them that “it is very easy to sit on the edge and say how it should be done.”
Ilie Bolojan recognizes that he avoids disputes with coalition partners. Photo Mediafax
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan reacted to the increasingly visible tensions in the ruling coalition, after the PSD leaders launched veiled warnings regarding a possible exit from the government, dissatisfied with some of the tax measures adopted by the Executive.
Ilie Bolojan explained that he avoids entering public disputes with coalition partners to protect political stability, essential in attracting external loans under the most advantageous conditions for Romania.
“As a prime minister, I try to strengthen political stability not for a man to stay in office, but because we need to take loans at better prices and interest. And then I avoid disposing with coalition partners, with the Government colleagues, with those who are in Parliament.”, Said Ilie Bolojan, quoted by ProTv.
Asked about the criticisms from the PSD leaders, the prime minister acknowledged that there were differences in approach inside the coalition regarding the components of the tax reform package presented in the Parliament.
“Indeed, there were differences on several components of this reform package, between the variant that initially published in the debate, between the variant that initially adopted in the Government, before sending to Parliament and the final version that adopted after the amendments in Parliament,” the prime minister acknowledged.
Regarding the dissatisfaction expressed by the PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu related to the measure of gambling tax, the prime minister said that, as a whole, the measures aimed at a consistent increase in the taxes in this sector.
“On the part of taxation of gambling, to understand each other well, as a whole is an increase in taxation of over 40% of the gambling”, explained Ilie Bolojan.
On the other hand, the social-democratic leaders warn that the party cannot be treated as a mere “decorative presence” in the ruling coalition, suggesting that the executive stability could be questioned if the measures proposed by the PSD are not considered.
The Secretary General of the PSD, Paul Stănescu, said that the formation he represents wants “a sincere discussion” about the party’s role in the current coalition, letting it be understood that the PSD could take into account including the exit from the government if his voice will continue to be ignored.
“The PSD cannot be ignored. The measures proposed by us cannot be given aside. We have, however, the largest share in Parliament and we cannot be treated as a decorative presence at a key moment for the country,” Stanescu said.
He added that the party must decide whether its role is to govern with responsibility or just to ensure government stability without having a say in major decisions.
“Given this state of affairs, together with all colleagues do we have to legitimately ask ourselves: is the role of PSD or to make a figuration just to ensure government stability? Even if we are in a difficult time for us as a party, do we satisfy with a place at the table, but without word? All colleagues decide in the party what to do ”, the Secretary General of the PSD also transmitted.
In this context, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan replied, that in politics it is easy to criticize from the edge without assuming difficult decisions.
“It is very easy to sit on the edge and say how it should be done,” He concluded the executive leader, stressing that the main objective remains to ensure the stability and economic balances in a complicated period for Romania.
