The Romanian 2010 budget, unable to sustain the country’s economy. Elsewhere in the news, future LibDem internal elections have brought the party to a boiling point. Last but not least, President of 1989 revolution veterans' organisation threatens with hunger strike.
The Romanian 2010 budget project and its amendments have been criticised to be unable to sustain the economy, Adevarul reads. It counts on the incomes collected from companies and has been accused for not having been shaped "to consider the business environment", but the public institutions' interests, the publication goes on.
The Government proposed the cancellation of the minimum tax. The measure has been assumed to bring one billion lei loss to the budget. Another amendment sees that a 5% VAT will be applied on residential constructions. If adopted, the drop in VAT is estimated to result in another 960 million lei minus. Liberals proposed that micro-enterprises' incomes be taxed 3%, and asked to reduce the penalty for delaying to pay up dues from 0.1% to 0.03%. MPs rejected it, approving a PSD proposal for this tax: 0.05%.
The pension standard was wished-for to increase to 45% of the average income. MPs voted against, as well as declining the employees' social insurances fees. On the other hand, the Agriculture Ministry got additional funds - 2.1 billion lei more, with 500 million lei to go to the Development and Tourism Ministry, headed by Elena Udrea.
The Permanent Electoral Authorities will be able to employ 46 more staff. National Audiovisual Council and National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives (CNSAS) staff will enjoy increased salaries. While the Romanian Cultural Institute gets the same budget as in 2009, the Romanian Academy was refused a 19.5 million lei increase in funds.
Business people in the agricultural sector c