Grindeanu: PSD drafts amendment to postpone housing VAT hike until October 1

Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD) intends to submit an amendment to delay the Value Added Tax (VAT) increase on housing until October 1, announced PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu. He urged all political parties to support this initiative, which aims to mitigate the impact of the planned tax hike from 9% to 21%.

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PSD has drafted an amendment to postpone the increase of VAT from 9% to 21% until October 1, due to the attack at the CPI.

Grindeanu also proposed the formation of a crisis committee within Parliament, comprising representatives from all parties. This temporary working group would be tasked with urgently preparing solutions for critical situations. He specifically cited the planned postponement of the housing VAT increase as one of the first proposed measures, directly linking it to an "attack at the CPI" (likely referring to the National Agency for Public Procurement, CPI). Grindeanu dismissed arguments from Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan regarding the budgetary impact, stating the measure would not create a "hole in the budget."

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I have seen the position of Ilie Bolojan yesterday, who again invoked the deficit. But it does not represent any hole in the budget.

Beyond the housing VAT, the PSD is advocating for other urgent measures. These include compensation for rising fuel prices and the unblocking of personnel hiring at maternity hospitals. Grindeanu stressed that these are part of the immediate priorities that need resolution, alongside unblocking legislation related to the PNRR. He also indicated that the party awaits proposals from other parliamentary groups.

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I have decided to convene the Permanent Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies, where I will request the convening of an extraordinary session of the Chamber starting Monday, July 27. I ask the President of the Senate for the same.

Furthermore, Grindeanu announced his intention to convene the Permanent Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies to request an extraordinary parliamentary session beginning July 27. The purpose of this session would be to adopt the legislative package necessary to meet the milestones outlined in Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan. He also mentioned plans for a meeting with the National Integrity Agency (ANI) to review its organic law and potential effects on the agency's attributions.

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Regarding the ANI Law, I will have a meeting tomorrow morning with the leadership of ANI to see if the law submitted by the Government curtails the attributions of the National Integrity Agency.