New Fiscal Code sparks new protests
After its proposed justice laws, the Governments fiscal policies are now being fiercely contested by part of Romanian society
România Internațional, 13.11.2017, 14:56
By now a common practice across Romania, the recent protests staged on Sunday saw a lower turnout compared to the previous week, although tension ran just as high. Some 1,500 people gathered in Bucharest in front of the Government building, the starting point for a march towards the headquarters of the Social-Democratic Party, the main party in the ruling coalition.
Protesters threw toilet paper rolls over the fence. One of the protesters was fined and another two were taken in police custody after refusing to present their IDs. Protesters also rallied in other cities across the country. They now fear that the Government’s proposed fiscal measures might result in income and staff cuts, after its repeated attempts at amending the justice laws, a move thousands believe is aimed at subordinating the judiciary to the power and obstructing the fight against corruption.
The protesters voiced their grievances: “I’m here because the Romanian people have put their trust in them to govern and they are not keeping the promises made during the election campaign, let alone their day-to-day actions, the draft laws they propose, going against the Romanian people. Everything the MPs and lawmakers do is to serve their own interest and that of those close to them”.
“I demand the justice laws and the amendments to the fiscal code be rejected!”
“Since the Social-Democratic Party came to power, things are worse than ever and people are growing ever more disgruntled. We would like things to change”.
President Klaus Iohannis and the country’s biggest trade unions have described the Government’s emergency decree transferring social security contributions from employers to employees and reducing the income tax from 16 to 10%, starting January 1, 2018, as a “fiscal upset”. Both the Social-Democratic strongman Liviu Dragnea and Prime Minister Mihai Tudose have repeatedly defended the amendments to the Fiscal Code, which they argue are favoring the business sector and simplifying related procedures, in addition to boosting revenues to the state budget and the pension fund.
Liviu Dragnea: “We have only one problem right now, which the Government will soon remedy: people who work in the IT sector, who are already paying zero income tax. But there are options my colleagues in the Government are working on, so that IT businesses may hold onto their benefits”.
The National Liberal Party, in opposition, announced it would refer the matter to the Ombudsman so as to challenge the decree at the Constitutional Court. Previously the Liberals had voiced their intent to file a motion against the Tudose Cabinet.
