A former USR minister anticipates new tax increases: “Regardless of the government, they will use exactly the same arguments”

USR Deputy Claudiu Năsui, former Minister of the Economy, stated that the budget for 2026 foresees higher expenses by approximately 55 billion lei than last year and warned that, without a decrease in them, “the only option that remains on the table is the increase in taxes”.

In a Facebook post on Monday, the USR lawmaker said “the only ones who suffered a drastic drop in purchasing power were ordinary people” after last year's tax hikes, “and that's not going to change.”

“At the beginning of the year we said that the probability of raising taxes again this year is 50%. Now we see a new budget with higher expenditures (+55 billion) and with a smaller deficit only because of last year's tax increases,” said Claudiu Nasui.

He suggested that future tax increases are inevitable.

“If you don't reduce expenses, the only option left on the table is to increase taxes. When the time comes, regardless of the government, they will use the same arguments as every time: “we have to”, “we are obliged”, “in the future we promise to cut expenses”, “we are doing tax reform”, etc., added Năsui.

“Big mistake”

The former minister believes that the governing parties were wrong when they supported the tax increases.

“Unfortunately, all the parties in the governing coalition supported the tax increases. That was a big mistake. Electorally, maybe the propaganda is more expensive and until the next elections the world forgets. But economically, this mistake caused a lot of suffering to those who could bear it the least”, concluded Claudiu Năsui.

The government adopted the draft budget for 2026 last Thursday, and it has meanwhile reached Parliament, where PSD and AUR submitted several amendments.

According to the draft State Budget Law (explanation of reasons), budget revenues are estimated at approximately 391.7 billion lei, while expenses reach 527.4 billion lei, which means a deficit of approximately 135.7 billion lei.

However, the document also allows commitment credits of over 712 billion lei, i.e. promises of spending for projects that will span several years.

The implicit message of the budget is that the state continues to spend far above its income, but tries to keep European investments and projects moving.

PHOTO: Vlad Ispas | Dreamstime.com