PNL accuses PSD of manipulating Eurostat data on Romania’s deficit

PNL accuses PSD of manipulating Eurostat data on Romania’s budget deficit and using indicators calculated according to different methodologies to criticize the Bolojan government. The dispute erupted on Thursday evening after the Social Democrats claimed that Romania’s deficit was the highest in the European Union and exceeded the level recorded at the end of Marcel Ciolacu’s government.

The Liberals say that, in the first six months of 2026, the deficit stood at 2% of GDP according to the cash methodology and at 3.4% of GDP according to the European ESA methodology. PNL argues that the 9.2% figure cited by PSD refers to an indicator for the second quarter, not to the cumulative deficit for the first six months.

The Ministry of Finance said Eurostat data confirmed a reduction in the deficit calculated according to ESA 2010, from 9.2% of GDP in 2024 to 7.8% in 2025. Romania recorded the largest decline among member states, but continues to have the highest deficit in the EU.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the data for 2025 are final, while those for the first two quarters of 2026 are provisional. The differences between the methodologies concern the recording of European funds, the timing of revenues and payment commitments. PNL also cites estimates by Moody’s, Fitch and S&P, which forecast a deficit for Romania of between 5.8% and 6.25% of GDP.