The Minister of Finance: “Maintaining the investment rhythm and the payment of salaries and pensions increased last year represents a huge challenge” / Deficit for the first four months

The Interim Minister of Finance, Tanczos Barna, commented on the data of the budget execution of the first four months of the year, on Tuesday, in a Facebook post, and argues that the deficit targets assumed by our country will be able to be reached “only through firm measures, the reduction of expenses and the creation of a more supple state.”

“The budget execution of the first four months of the year shows that ensuring the sources of income to maintain the investment rhythm and the payment of salaries and pensions increased last year represents a huge challenge.

He said that, for the first four months, “the difference between revenues and expenses was 55.9 billion lei, generating a deficit of 2.95%”.

“In these four months, the revenues increased both in value and as a share in GDP, reaching 200 billion lei. In April, the budget revenues were 59 billion lei, 16% more than April 2024. This increase is due to better VAT collection,” said the Minister of Finance.

Tanczos Barna says about expenses that they “had a major impact on the budget”.

“Regarding the expenses, the payment of salaries and pensions, as well as the investments – which have reached a record level of over 32 billion lei – had a major impact on the budget. Instead, we managed to reduce the waste with goods and services, registering even their 3.9% decrease in the state budget,” the official continued.

The interim Minister of Finance considers that “measures to strengthen the income will be required, at the same time with a more significant reduction of expenses”.

“The figures demonstrate that we have an economy capable of generating substantial incomes, even in a marked period of challenges. However, a stronger commitment is needed to achieve a sustainable balance between incomes and expenses. The new government will have to implement measures to strengthen income, at the same time with a more significant reduction,”

President Nicușor Dan has summoned consultations with the parties for the training of the Government, on Wednesday, starting at 9 o'clock. The discussion with the UDMR delegation is the third on the agenda, from 12 o'clock, and about the negotiation mandate offered his leader, Kelemen Hunor, during statements made to the Parliament on Tuesday.