Romania's public debt "nearly doubled in the past four years"
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Thursday at Victoria Palace that Romania's public debt reached in 2013 51 billion euros, compared to 28 billion euros as it was in 2008.
Articol de Paul Poteraşi, 12 Ianuarie 2013, 10:41
Victor Ponta stated that in 2013, Romania will have a GDP of about 140 billion euros, which is equivalent to 7,000 euros per year for every Romanian.
"After 2008, Romania has consistently lost the value of GDP, from 140 billion in 2008, we dropped to 132 in 2012.
"In 2012, we spent more than we produced with 3.1 billion euros, and in 2013 we will spend more than we will produce will three billion", said the Prime Minister.
Victor Ponta said that 2013 will be a return to 2008 and "the closing to four years of underdevelopment".
Because in 2013 there will be spent three billion euros more than we will produce, the chief executive said at the end of the year every Romanian "will own more with 150 euros."
For the year 2013, Romania, said Victor Ponta, has outstanding debt of 14.4 billion euros.
"The government has to repay 1.2 billion euros of loan received from the IMF and European Union," said the Premier. --fb1
The Head of government said that Romania has a debt of 34.7 percent of GDP in 2013 and within the European Union only three countries have a lower debt (Estonia, Bulgaria, Luxembourg), while the other 23 countries have a GDP debt higher than that of Romania.
2013, without salary increases, pension and no additional posts
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said that in 2013 the Parliament will remain in the budget of 2012.
The situation will be similar also at the government.
Victor Ponta said that 2013 will be removed the privileges of state companies and public authorities, privileges which the public "knows very little, apart from salary income."
The prime minister added that in 2013 we do not allow increases in salaries or pensions.
"I fixed what was cut in 2010, but it would be unreasonable to speak of additional growth," said Victor Ponta.
The head of government said that in 2013 the executive will not approve any investment fund for which it is possible to access EU funds.
"Stop the allocations on political criteria. I did not approve and I will not approve the reserve fund allocations to municipalities leading to the idea that we give more to one party or another," said Victor Ponta.
The Minister for Budget, Liviu Voinea, said that the executive assumes a growth of 1.8 percent for 2013 to a level of GDP of 629 billion lei.
Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea
MTTLC, Bucharest University
