Ponta: Basescu can postpone promulgation of CAS cut until January if he challenges it in court

Prime Minister Victor Ponta told Antena 3 private broadcaster on Wednesday evening that President Traian Basescu can postpone the promulgation of the law for a cut in the social security contributions (CAS) until after January 1, 2015 if the president challenges the law with the Constitutional Court after a revote on it in Parliament.

'Had I not come up with the proposal to cut the CAS, I would have heard this evening Traian Basescu criticising me for not having cut the CAS. What is certain is that he misspoke and I want to be very clear. He said let us wait and maybe we do the cut on January 1. Mr Basescu on January 1 can at most serve some jail sentence. No way can he do the cut in CAS or promulgate laws because he will no longer be Romania's president. There is one thing I want to say: as long as I am the prime ministers — maybe I will become the president, but that is another story — I will campaign for lower taxes on labour and at the same time for more inspections and a more efficient tax administration authority, because that will mean more taxable jobs,' said Ponta.

Asked about what he will do with the CAS cut, Ponta explained, 'The law will return to Parliament, first to the Senate and then to the Chamber of Deputies. We have not changed our mind, in that we will pass it again. After that, President Basescu may promulgate it or challenge it with the Constitutional Court (CCR), which means he can potstone it until after January 1.'

President Traian Basescu on Wednesday signed a request for the re-examination of the law providing for a cut in the CAS. He argued that as far as the cut is concerned, it would be fair for the Government to discuss compensatory measures with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the...