The first reaction of a PSD leader after Kelemen Hunor asked for a tax reduction: “Am I to understand that we now also have “UDMR-ists” disguised as PSD-ists?”
Claudiu Manda, PSD general secretary. Photo: Inquam Photos: Virgil Simonescu
The post of Claudiu Manda, the general secretary of the PSD, is the first reaction from the top of the formation after the president of the UDMR Kelemen Hunor asked for the reduction of local taxes.
In a post on Facebook, Claudiu Manda says that the social democrats were accused of wanting to break the coalition “that we have a hidden agenda when we signal measures taken without consultation”.
Without directly mentioning Kelemen Hunor's statements, Manda ironically asks if the UDMR-ists will also be accused of being close to the PSD, alluding to the criticism of some liberals who contested the measures of the government led by Ilie Bolojan.
“In addition to “PNL-ists” disguised as PSD-ists, am I to understand that we now also have “UDMR-ists” disguised as PSD-ists?”, writes Claudiu Manda. Contacted by HotNews, Manda did not want to provide additional details regarding the post made.
Earlier, also on Wednesday, PSD leadership sources said that the UDMR idea is not a bad one, but that a discussion in the coalition is needed to concretely establish the proposal of the party led by Kelemen Hunor.
“It is a rational idea that deserves to be discussed in the coalition,” PSD leadership sources told HotNews.
Kelemen Hunor's request
The party led by Kelemen Hunor announced on Tuesday that it is “officially initiating, in addition to the prime minister, the possibility that local authorities, within the limits of the tax levels established by law, can reduce taxes until the adoption of the budgets and reintroduce tax facilities, especially for the disabled and for the most vulnerable families”.
The new taxes and local taxes were increased from January 1, 2026, and in the coalition the decision was made last year. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan assumed responsibility in Parliament on September 1, 2025, with the support of the coalition parties, regarding these increases.
“The government can do this through an emergency ordinance. At the same time, the UDMR has also initiated the granting, throughout the year, of targeted financial support for retirees with small pensions, considering the difficult period”, according to the UDMR.
UDMR takes a step back and asks the coalition to rethink local taxes and fees: “The government can do it”
Asked on Wednesday in the Parliament, if he discussed with Prime Minister Bolojan about the reduction of local taxes and fees, Kelemen Hunor stated that he is going to meet with him.
When asked if the governing coalition breaks up if the prime minister doesn't want to return to lower taxes, Kelemen Hunor replied: “I don't speculate until I talk to the prime minister. He said yesterday when we spoke on the phone that he had meetings, we didn't manage to see each other, that he was asking for a break to talk to those from Finance. (…) At the moment he has the support of the coalition.”
Kelemen Hunor said his proposal is for tax cuts to be up to 50% and to be decided by local authorities, “depending on the possibilities”.
What answer does Kelemen Hunor say that Prime Minister Bolojan gave him when he proposed the reduction of local taxes
