Cuts or no cuts? The authorities waver again
After President Basescu's shock announcement last Thursday
regarding salary and pension cuts, the authorities tend to be
sucked into endless talks with trade unions and with business
owners' associations, unable to at least provide a clear
explanation about progressive income cuts or enforcing additional
taxes.
A "solidarity tax" for employees with high incomes in state-held
companies, based on undecided criteria, prospective donations from
ministers' and PMs' salaries, children's allowances cut based on
unknown criteria, and other tax hikes and measures meant to prevent
tax evasion included in a letter of intent to the IMF that the
Government does not take responsibility for.
After a tense meeting with unions and business owners'
associations, President Traian B`sescu yesterday concluded that the
agreement reached with the IMF was renegotiable and that he
expected the approval of the Economic and Social Council before the
Government would adopt the measures.