"A strong economic recession will have a significant impact on Romania. The economic growth in 2009 will be lower than in 2008. The most optimistic prognosis is a 6% growth", said Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu on Friday, during an intervention at the Economic Studies Academy (ASE). The head of Government invited his opponents for the PM office - Democrat Liberal Teodor Stolojan and Social Democrat Mircea Geoana - to a debate in front of the ASE students, but both officials failed to show up.

Tariceanu's main statements, in brief:

- The electoral campaign should be an idea-based debate between adversaries, but our campaign looks more like a football game;

- I regret that my counter-candidates refused the invitation for today. Maybe next week we'll have televise debates;

- My conviction is that the anti-crisis plan for creating and maintaining jobs will have the same positive impact on the economy as the 16% flat tax had;

- We wish to lower the distance between Romania and the developed countries and to reach as soon as possible the European currency convergence conditions. "A strong economic recession will have a significant impact on Romania. The economic growth in 2009 will be lower than in 2008. The most optimistic prognosis is a 6% growth", said Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu on Friday, during an intervention at the Economic Studies Academy (ASE). The head of Government invited his opponents for the PM office - Democrat Liberal Teodor Stolojan and Social Democrat Mircea Geoana - to a debate in front of the ASE students, but both officials failed to show up.

Tariceanu's main statements, in brief:

- The electoral campaign should be an idea-based debate between adversaries, but our campaign looks more like a football game;

- I regret that my counter-candidates r