Interim Minister of Economy and Transportation, Radu Miruță, did not approve the budget projects of TAROM and CFR Călători, citing unrealistic estimates that could lead to further losses for the two state-owned companies.
He mentioned encountering similar issues in the budgets of other subordinate companies, including CFR Infrastructură and CNAIR.
Miruță argues that his role is not to validate documents based on optimistic calculations but to stop mechanisms that perpetuate the financial problems of state-owned companies.
Accusations regarding TAROM's budget estimates
In the case of TAROM, the minister stated that the budget project is based on assumptions that do not correspond to the company's actual situation.
The minister presented some of the figures that led him to reject the budget project. According to him, TAROM estimates that 63% of revenues will come from ticket sales and has built the budget based on an aircraft occupancy rate of 79%, despite the actual rate being around 66% halfway through the year.
"They proposed an occupancy budget for 2026 of 79% when we are halfway through the year, and realistically, it is 66% so far. I checked it compared to last year, and it was 72% up to this point," Miruță specified.
He cited the example of fuel costs, which were estimated at 950 euros per ton, while the actual price is around 1,400 euros. Additionally, the expense calculations were based on the assumption that aircraft operate at a high occupancy rate, despite many flights having empty seats.
"My responsibility, in my opinion, is to stop these losses when I see them. Not to sign a document where 2 plus 2 equals 10 and say it's correct," the minister stated.
He mentioned requesting a revision of the document based on data he considers close to reality. "I asked them to revise this budget based on reality. They don't make much progress, saying it's an agreement they have with the EC, that the EC has imposed a certain fuel price threshold on them," he said.
Uncertain revenues in CFR Călători's budget
Referring to CFR Călători, Miruță claimed that the budget project includes revenues treated as secure, although their collection depends on multiple factors.
The minister did not provide details about the nature of these revenues, arguing that the information falls under the company's commercial strategy. "There are potential revenues that CFR Călători has, which cannot be considered certain. There are many conditions that influence whether these revenues will be collected or not," Miruță stated.
Other companies have also come with problematic budgets
The minister stated that similar issues were identified with other companies under the ministry's authority. He cited CNAIR as an example, which proposed increasing the staff by approximately 500 employees, with over 126 expected to work in Bucharest.
Additionally, Miruță mentioned initially rejecting the budget of CFR Infrastructură as it projected a significant loss. The document was later approved after the company presented a revised version that considerably reduced the estimated loss.
"I'm putting a stop to this"
The minister dismissed the idea that refusing to approve budgets affects the companies' operations and argued that the real danger lies in validating what he considers artificial estimates.
"Do you know what is not in the interest of these state-owned companies? For this building to feed those who drain money from this company and say it's fine. I'm putting a stop to this," he affirmed.
Radu Miruță specified that the legislation does not allow him to give direct orders to the management of TAROM and CFR Călători, but he can influence decisions through state representatives in the general shareholders' meetings. He insisted that he will not approve budget projects that, in his opinion, are based on unrealistic estimates.