Decisive vote for the State Budget in the Romanian Parliament / The legislature resumes debates

The Romanian Parliament will convene on Friday, March 19, for the final vote on the State Budget Law Project and the Social Insurance Budget Law Project, after a marathon night of debates.

The general debates on the budget began on Thursday, around 9:00 PM, after the State Budget Law Project was approved in the joint budget-finance committees. At 3:00 AM, the joint plenary of Parliament suspended the debates, which are set to resume on Friday at 10:00 AM.

Although some articles were adopted, the final vote was postponed until today, when parliamentarians will discuss the budget annexes and the pension budget.

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan was present at all plenary debates, after initial negotiations were tense, especially due to the PSD's demands related to a 'solidarity package' for pensioners and children with disabilities. The solution was found through postponing the payment of certain rights earned by magistrates. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu expressed satisfaction regarding the inclusion of the social package. The final vote is expected in the second part of the day, being a crucial step before the budget is promulgated.

Read: The High Court judges the Government after Bolojan took money from magistrates and gave it to aid for pensioners and municipalities