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01. 05. 12. - 14:00

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01. 05. 12. - 14:00

Ponta to call for an audit over Romania’s finances

Michael Leidig

Premier-designate Victor Ponta said on Monday (yesterday), following a meeting with the representatives of Romania’s international creditors, that after his Cabinet is endorsed by the parliament he will order an audit over the financial situation of the country.

His decision came as a reaction to the statements made by the outgoing finance minister Bogdan Dragoi, who said that he leaves the country’s finances ‘stable’ and with positive prospects for the increase of public wages.

"These statements made by the current rulers, not only ministers, but also by the Democrat Liberal leader Emil Boc, according to which the country has such a wonderful situation worries me. Maybe this is why their government fell. Let’s be serious and see, one month after the new Cabinet takes over, what the reality is. We will order an audit to see if what they are saying, that the pantries are full, is true. In my opinion, they are full of debts and obligations", Ponta said.

The Social Democrat leader said he is worried about the issue of the restitution of the properties, which has to be solved until July 12, according to a ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg.

"The previous governments did absolutely nothing to solve this issue, and unfortunately I just found out that the deadline can be extended only until September. We will look for solution to this extremely serious problemme", he said.

According to the estimates made by outgoing finance minister Dragoi, Romania has to pay some 16 billion Euros to the former owners whose properties have been confiscated by the Communists.

Asked what if the ministers will leave with the documents to cover the extent of the debts, Ponta said he relies on the vigilance of the press

The next PM said he would seek to solve the issue of the pensions before increasing the salaries. "The return of the illegal 5.5 percent health tax to pensioners is the number zero priority and the increase of the wages, the number one", Victor Ponta said.

On Monday night, Ponta told the head of the IMF mission in Romania Jeffrey Franks that his cabinet will do its best to maintain the stability of the country.

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