Salaries increase "even if the economy will worsen"

The Government will not give up the second stage to increase the public wages even if the economic situation will worsen, says Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

The Prime Minister has stated, in an interview that was broadcast on PRO TV that, in this case, will be cut expenditure from other chapters.

Victor Ponta added that in order to ensure the necessary funds for repayment of contributions to health care, retained illegally from pensioners it is also necessary 400 million lei, and the amount will be ensured at the budgetary adjustment in July.

The Prime Minister explained that the Government wants to recover about 300 million lei from the municipalities that have received money from the Reserve Fund, and the difference will come from the reduction of expenditure on acquisitions and foreign trips.

The Prime Minister also announced that for the 2013 envisages reducing the CAS from the employer, but also the tax rate for those with lower incomes.

"After all the calculations that you do we want to have taxes in three stages, 16 percent for trading companies and people on medium incomes, and for those on very low incomes we shall try to have the two quotas 12 percent and 8 per cent.

"The effect on the budget is negative and this why we cannot do it today, since the first day, "said Victor Ponta.

Next year will bring a new level of royalties.

Victor Ponta declared that by the end of June will be announced the new level, given that the current rate is 4 per cent , compared with 20 per cent as the average European royalty.

Baccalaureate Exam "on the system in 2011"

Prime Minister Victor Ponta also announced at "After 20 years", on PRO TV, that the Baccalaureate exam this year will be held on the basis of the last year system .

Victor Ponta said that he supports the installation in the exam rooms of cameras in order to remove any fraud.

The results recorded last year were the worst in the past 20 years, with a promotion to under 50 percent, compared with more than 75 percent as it was during the period 2000-2010.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta has also stated that following discussions with the BNR Governor Mugur Isărescu, National Bank of Romania (BNR) considers that the evolution of the national currency(leu) versus European currencies can be kept under control and that the fluctuation of the exchange rate will not affect major financial markets.

Translated by

Denisse-Meda Bucura

MTTLC, Bucharest University