JUNE 2025: BAROMETER Informat.ro - INSCOP Research: Romanians' opinion on various solutions to reduce the budget deficit | 77.10% of respondents agree with reducing the state's operating expenses

According to the Informat.ro - INSCOP Research BAROMETER conducted between May 26-30, 2025, Romanians have very clear opinions on the various solutions to reduce the budget deficit.

BAROMETRUL Informat.ro - INSCOP Research is a monthly opinion poll conducted by INSCOP Research commissioned by the news platform Informat.ro in partnership with the think-tank Strategic Thinking Group.

The Informat.ro - INSCOP ResearchBAROMETER aims to bring to public attention topics of interest to stimulate national conversations on various topics and public policies essential for Romania's present and future based on the opinion of Romanians in partnership with prestigious think tanks and academic institutions. It is an approach through which we aim to contribute to the consolidation of democracy through the use of scientific and credible tools that bring the voice of citizens to the forefront of public debate.

Methodology: Data was collected between May 26-30, 2025.

Research method: interview by questionnaire. Data were collected by CATI method (telephone interviews), the simple, stratified sample size was 1150 persons, representative by significant socio-demographic categories (sex, age, occupation) for the non-institutionalized population of Romania, aged 18 years and over. The maximum permissible error of the data is ± 2.9% at 95% confidence level.

Remus Ștefureac - Director INSCOP Research:  "The support of the population for various measures to reduce the budget deficit varies according to personal exposure, the perception of the direct impact on their own income and the way the impact on the economy is understood. Reducing non-employee government operating expenses is the most popular measure, with 77% of respondents strongly agreeing or somewhat agreeing. Cutting staff in the budgetary sector is also fully or partly agreed with by 67% of respondents, while cutting salaries in the budgetary sector is agreed with by just under half of respondents (48%). The strongest opposition is to cutting investment (only about 27% agree with this measure), which is probably also seen as a source of blockage to economic development, and to increasing taxes for businesses (only about 25% agree fully or partly with this measure). Raising taxes on businesses is probably interpreted both as a brake on the economy and as a source of lower incomes and higher prices, which would have a direct impact on large majorities of the population".

Agreement on various solutions to reduce the budget deficit

Reduction of government operating expenditure (other than on employees)

Reduction of government operating expenditure (other than on employees)

Question to what extent you would agree with reducing government operating expenditure (other than on employees), 58.4% of respondents say they would strongly agree with such a measure, 18.8% would somewhat agree (77.1% in total), 5.2% somewhat oppose, and 13.7% strongly oppose. 4% do not know or do not answer. I agree with reducing the state's operating expenses especially: PNL and USR voters (about 90% of the voters of these parties, but also more than 65% of PSD and AUR voters), men, people with a higher level of education, inhabitants of Bucharest or of the big urban areas and state employees.

Reduction of staff in the budgetary sector

When asked to what extent they would agree with reducing the number of staff in the budgetary sector as a solution to reduce the budget deficit, 46.7% of Romanians say they would strongly agree, 20.7% somewhat agree (67.3% in total), 7.8% somewhat oppose, and 21.3% strongly oppose. The share of non-answers is 3.6%. Support cuts in the budgetary sector in particular: PNL and USR voters (around 80% of the voters of both parties, but also 68% and 63% of PSD and AUR voters respectively), men, people with a higher level of education, people living in large urban areas and private employees.  

Cuts in budget sector salaries

29.9% of respondents say they would strongly agree with cutting budget sector salaries, 18.5% would somewhat agree (48.4% in total), 12.5% somewhat oppose and 35.1% strongly oppose. The share of non-respondents is 4.1%.Support cuts in public sector salaries in particular: USR and AUR voters, men, people aged between 30 and 44. They are especially against such a measure: young people under 30 and state employees.

Reduction of investments

15.4% of Romanians say they would strongly agree with the reduction of investments, 11.5% would somewhat agree (26.8% in total), 13.3% somewhat oppose it, and 54.5% strongly oppose it. 5.4% do not know or do not answer. Somewhat higher than average proportions of GOLD voters, people with a primary education and rural residents in particular agree with cutting investment by slightly more than average. They are against such a measure especially: PNL, USR, PSD voters, people with higher education, urban dwellers and private employees.

Increase in taxes for firms

12.4%  of those surveyed say they would strongly agree with raising taxes on businesses, 13% would somewhat agree (25.4% in total), 18.5% somewhat oppose, and 51.7% strongly oppose. The share of non-answers is 4.4%. Disagreement with the increase in business taxes is strong (about 70%) among all population categories.

Graphical presentation of the data is available here : 04.06.2025  BAROMETER Informat.ro - INSCOP Research: Romanians' opinion on various solutions to reduce the budget deficit