Romania's election front-runner rules out tax hikes

ROMANIA'S hard-right presidential front-runner George Simion “categorically” ruled out tax hikes if he wins election, but offered no alternative to cutting the EU’s largest budget deficit and avoiding a ratings downgrade.

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The eurosceptic Simion decisively swept the ballot at the weekend, with some 41% of votes, triggering the resignation of leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the collapse of the pro-Western coalition government.

“Any tax hike means recession,” Simion told private television station Digi24 this week. “That is not the solution. I will advocate lower taxation for the minimum wage.”

He said he had a five-year plan to cut 500 000 administrative jobs in the public sector, excluding doctors, teachers and soldiers.