The government’s plans to introduce 35 new taxes is wrong, “like pulling the breaks on the economy”, according to the Romanian President Traian Basescu. However, he added that he remains optimistic about this year’s economic growth, according to Mediafax.

“The solution found by the government was to increase taxes […] The idea that an economy, that went through the crisis with great efforts and high political costs, receives a set of 35 new taxes once balanced, is wrong, it is like pulling the break on the economy,” said Basescu.

The president has however expressed confidence in the economic growth.

“If agriculture performs at an acceptable level, it would allow us an increase and, contrary to the data from the economists, I see the economy’s growth capacity between 4 and 5 percent. It’s clear that the break pulled by the government is not so hard as to discourage the proper functioning of the economy,” said the President.

editor@romania-insider.com