Tensions within the coalition deepen, and PNL, through the voice of the first vice-president Ciprian Ciucu, announces that the future is uncertain and talks about a possible exit from the government.
The theme of the conflict: local administration reform. PNL claims that the local administration reform proposed by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan will lead to an effective reduction of 10% in the positions held in town halls and county councils, not to cuts of 25% or 45% as rumored.
"Political parties need to be reasonable: the ACTUAL reduction of positions is 10%. Not 25% or 45% as reported in the media. In short:
1. A town hall or county council has a maximum ceiling of positions, depending on the number of residents. Cumulatively, at the national level, we are talking about 180,000 positions, rounded.
2. There are town halls/county councils that have not built their organizational charts to the maximum ceiling. Thus, today, the total number of positions set by the organizational charts of local authorities is 158,500 positions, rounded.
It can be observed that the number of positions established through organizational charts is approximately 23% lower than the maximum ceilings set. Conclusion: a 25% reduction in maximum ceilings would have no effect on administration. It would refer to positions that have not even been established/filled," says Ciprian Ciucu, the first vice-president of PNL, in a statement.
Ciucu also states that a reduction relative to the maximum ceiling, not to the actual number of employees, is "reasonable" and will direct funds towards resuming investments.
"3. Not all positions in organizational charts are filled. The number of positions filled in local administrations is 127,500, rounded. Relative to point 1, to the maximum ceiling, these represent 68%. This means a difference of 32%, on average. Conclusion: the actual reduction of personnel in local administrations has effects ranging from a 30% decrease in the maximum ceiling.
In short: if we agree to reduce FILLED POSITIONS by approx. 10%, the maximum ceiling must be reduced by 40%. In nominal values, we are talking about an impact of approx. 13,100 reduced filled positions. A reduction of 40 or 45% relative to the legal maximum ceiling, not to the filled positions, ensures a somewhat reasonable impact. Thus, funds will go towards resuming investments.
4. Considering that each administrative unit has independently established its organizational chart, including the filled positions, the effects of a possible 40% reduction in the maximum ceiling will vary from one administration to another. In a good part of town halls (50%, estimated) there will be NO PERSONNEL REDUCTIONS. In the others, the personnel reduction could range from 1–2% to 20%," explains Ciucu.
In short, he says:
- With a 25% reduction in the base ceiling, no filled position is restructured;
- With a 40% reduction from the legal maximum ceiling, as proposed by PNL, approx. 10% of positions will be restructured (the coalition had assumed 20%);
- In nominal values, we are talking about approx. 13,000 filled positions.
Ciprian Ciucu also says that it is an evaluation moment for each town hall that should make reductions, compared to town halls in similar localities where the staff is correctly sized.
"What Ilie Bolojan proposed is just common sense! If the Government Coalition cannot make such simple structural reforms, how can they propose others with a greater impact?
What we know today is that 5 out of the 6 packages will pass this week. The future is uncertain. We will only be part of a coalition that can keep the country afloat and revive it economically. Otherwise...," Ciucu concludes.
The Government will today assume responsibility in Parliament for five bills from Package 2 of fiscal measures. The government coalition failed on Sunday to reach an agreement on the reform of local public administration, the only project in Package 2 of reforms that has not been agreed upon so far.
PSD opposed the cuts proposed by Ilie Bolojan and, at the request of the Social Democrats, the reform of public administration was postponed until September 15.