Achievements and challenges of the Ponta Cabinet
The president of the Social Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea has presented a report on the activity of the government led by outgoing Prime Minister Victor Ponta after four years in power.
Roxana Vasile, 17.11.2015, 13:16
The new president of the Social Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea on Monday presented the achievements of the different cabinets led by outgoing Social Democrat prime minister Victor Ponta for the last four years. According to Liviu Dragnea, Victor Pontas government came to power in 2012 at a time when the countrys economy was just beginning to recover from the economic crisis. Since then, his government has managed to consolidate economic growth, which now stands at 3.8%, one of the highest rates in the European Union, Mr Dragnea also said. He also mentioned the rise in public sector salaries after a drastic 25% cut by the previous government because of the economic crisis.
Moreover, the salaries of healthcare and education professionals have grown by 25% this year. Pensions have also been increased, starting 2013. 320,000 new jobs were created between April 2012 and August 2015 and youth unemployment rates dropped. Liviu Dragnea also pointed out that Romanias budget deficit today is at 1.5% of the GDP, compared with 5.4% in 2011. Liviu Dragnea:
“Romania has borrowed less from the foreign and domestic markets because the economy went well, with the GDP growing from 133 to 158 billion euros in 2015. This allowed the Ponta Cabinet to do two fundamental things: increase the purchasing power of most Romanians by increasing their incomes and reducing their taxes; and stimulate the business environment through the fair provisions of the new Tax Code.
Like Liviu Dragnea, some Romanians believe Victor Ponta was Romanias best prime minister in the last 25 years. Others blame him for being in constant conflict with the former president Traian Basescu to the detriment of the country, as well as for alleged acts of corruption, for which he is in fact now facing trial. When it comes to failures, Ponta can also be blamed for losing the presidential elections to Klaus Iohannis in November 2014.
Also looking back at his time in power one year after taking office, president Klaus Iohannis spoke on Monday about the challenges of his term so far and his intention to conduct a different type of politics, based on professionalism, respect for principles and less conflict between politicians. Marked by disputes with Parliament, which often failed to act on its promise to lift the immunity of its members suspected of corruption, Iohanniss term now faces its biggest crisis: the resignation of Victor Ponta and the installation of a new government.
(translated by C. Mateescu)
