Romania's President, Traian Basescu,discussed online with HotNews.ro readers on Monday. The discussions focused on the current political crisis and the presidential elections. The Monday Discussion is put together by HotNews.ro and RFI Romania, moderated by Dan Tapalaga.
Reader 1 - President Basescu was asked if he would undergo for a political orientation test online - http://www.politicalcompass.org/test - and publish the results. Plus, his position on the current lump tax and the government imposing it.
Traian Basescu: "I agree with the current lump tax, it allowed cleaning the list of existing companies that did not have activity, but was sometimes used to lose money trace from different transactions. What still needs to be corrected: the companies whose shareholders and administrators are students or young people without other incomes, the lump tax needs to be symbolic - 1 Euro."
Reader 2 asked about possible discussions between the President and the designated PM Lucian Croitoru regarding the forming of a new cabinet.
Traian Basescu: "The designated PM is certainly working and will propose to the Parliament a cabinet with fewer ministers; he will focus on people with reputation in the area, whether they are political engaged or not."
Reader 3 wanted to ignore the manipulated mass-media and to realise whether the proposal to include a referendum in the presidential elections was part of the President’s intention to manipulate the civil society, assuming that voting for the reduction of the MPs number will elect Basescu as president. He also wanted to know why Basescu was certain he would win a new mandate.
Traian Basescu: "This is categorically not a manipulation. I wanted to use the presidential elections level of interest to attract a larger number to the polls, which would allow for the referendum validity. H
