The Defense Minister says the coalition's discussion on military pay “has not been cut in any way”. “We may find ourselves neighbors with Putin”
Ionuț Moșteanu Photo: Lucian Alecu / imago stock&people / Profimedia
The Minister of Defense, Ionuț Moșteanu, does not consider that possible salary reductions in the defense system would be appropriate, in the current security context, in which “we have a war on the border, for three years, which we do not know how long it will continue”. He says a final decision has yet to be made in the coalition, but that he is “certain that a solution will be reached that is right for the historical moment we are in now as a country.”.
Asked, Monday evening, on Digi24, about the intention of the governors to reduce by 10% the expenses with salaries in the administration, the Minister of Defense said: “Initially there was a discussion to exclude the entire national defense system – here I also include the Ministry of the Interior and other institutions. I firmly believe that every state in this world makes its plan and strategies, and public policies according to opportunities and according to realities.”
“The reality is that we have a war on the border, for three years, which we don't know how long it will continue and, after it continues, it will be an extremely challenging area anyway (…) from a military point of view. I think it is the last thing where we should cut, now, as a country. You cannot say that if you cut a town hall you must also cut the Army, not now, so I don't think it's the time, taking into account some realities”, Ionuț Moșteanu continued.
The coalition has not yet made a final decision
The minister said the coalition talk “hasn't broken down in any way” for now.
“We are going to discuss again to reach a solution (…). I don't think this is the right solution now, taking into account these realities (…). We have to fix some things that have been broken in recent years, in terms of expenses, much more was spent than we could afford. This year we will pay 53 billion in interest. The defense budget, including hospitals and educational institutions, is 43 billion”, continued Ionuț Moșteanu.
He believes that the reduction of expenses should not be done “cutting the bar equally”, but “we have to look at what matters to us”.
“I think it's important for us, as a country, at this moment, to be well protected, to discourage those who might have claims, because look at what's around. We might find ourselves neighbors with Putin”, also declared the Minister of Defense, Ionuț Moșteanu.
