The Parties Wishing For Salary Hikes Will Up Taxes – Romanian PM

"I want to be very clear and understood. Romanians need to know that the same parties who support irresponsible salary increases today will implement higher taxes tomorrow, to generate the money needed for these increases, and thus we get caught in a galloping inflation spiral which will eat away at purchase power or employees and pensioners alike," Tariceanu said.

 

He added Romania cannot afford irresponsible politicians who place their own electoral interests above national interest in an extremely difficult environment and apply populist measures, as great caution is necessary.

 

"I know how hard teachers work and how important they are for Romania’s future, because I too have been a teacher and I have pushed for salary hikes in the past four years. We will continue on this path, so we can increase the salaries of teachers, but always counting on the concrete results of economic growth," Tariceanu said.

 

Tariceanu also said he regrets seeing president Traian Basescu agreeing with such a salary hike, fully aware that it is economically unsustainable and it endangers the very investments in education for which he was pleading several months ago.

 

"Unfortunately, this is not an isolated example, because this type of statements can be heard in most parties, and champions are the social democrats, from whom I did not expect anything else seeing they are leftists, but also the democrat liberals, who claim to be rightists. In fact this is a party with a great deal of demagogy and a load of populism. And of course, they all use the same leftist rhetoric, encouraging the irresponsible spending of resources from the economic growth and the work done by Romanians.”

 

Tariceanu called on parties, as well as unions, to act responsibly, adding the government and the liberals will not consent to a sacrifice of Romanian economy.

 

"Romania’s economy is currently strong, stable and prepared to face the difficult international context. But with such measures, should we enact them, I assure you we kneel Romania. I will not allow the current situation to change. I will not allow the future of Romanians, the Romanians’ right to a better life to be endangered by such irresponsible actions," Tariceanu said.

 

Romanian president Traian Basescu announced Friday that he promulgated the law increasing teacher salaries by 50% starting October 1.

 

 

The head of state said the law observes constitutional criteria and he finds it adequate.