The Romanian Government has decided to cut to two (with a few exceptions) the number of secretaries of state within ministers, and to go ahead with adjustments in personnel numbers in these institutions, a measure which, amid pressure from the lack of budgetary resources, could no longer be put off. One thing is clear: there is no chance for salaries of public sector workers to return to the levels before the 25% cut, if the number of state budget-paid workers (1.36 million) is not drastically cut. By how much?

Economic analysts are firm: between 200,000 and 300,000 public sector posts should be eliminated from the financing schemes in order for the budget to be rebalanced. 100,000 is the number given by Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu. A cut of between 55,000 and 60,000 people was the variant discussed over the past few weeks in Government meetings. The state spends 11 billion euros per years on public sector employees. The effort can no longer be sustained.

Wednesday evening Prime Minister Emil Boc announced the number of state secretaries would be cut to two posts, with the only exception of the Interior, Foreign Affairs and Finance Ministries, whose organisational chart will continue to include three secretaries of state.

The overall number of state secretaries will be cut from 57 to 32 posts. But only 18 people will leave, because seven posts erased from the chart were unoccupied.

The premier also announced the number of sub-prefects would be cut from two posts to one in each county.

The Romanian Government has decided to cut to two (with a few exceptions) the number of secretaries of state within ministers, and to go ahead with adjustments in personnel numbers in these institutions, a measure which, amid pressure from the lack of budgetary resources, could no longer be put off. One thing is clear: there is no chance for sal