PM Ponta: Extraordinary session of the Senate on Tax Code, after August 15. Dignitaries’ salaries to be discussed next week. Another knee surgery likely

The Senate will convene in extraordinary session, probably after August 15, to re-discuss the Tax Code, and then the Chamber of Deputies, announced Prime Minister Victor Ponta, also adding that coalition lawmakers will vote ‘for’ because they are ‘not mad’.
“We agreed that in August, probably after August 15, an extraordinary session of the Senate will be convened, because it’s the first house of the parliament, and then the Chamber of Deputies. Obviously we will vote ‘for’ the new Tax Code as we are ‘not mad’ to vote contrary to out option three weeks ago. We are normal people and we should have a bit of shame at least. So, we will vote ‘for’ and I believe by September 1 the Tax Code will be enacted,” Ponta said Thursday evening during a telephone intervention with Romania TV.
Last week, President Klaus Iohannis sent back the Tax Code to Parliament for review. The Parliament is on vacation until September 1.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta also said that the government meeting next week will take a political decision on salaries for dignitaries, once the budget rectification is discussed.

Another knee surgery in sight

Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Thursday that it is likely to go to Turkey for a few days for a new knee surgery.

“It is very likely to have another knee surgery, but it’s not so bad as last time, it’s to complete what not done last time,” said Victor Ponta for Romania TV.

The prime minister said that “if there will be a few days of absence, Deputy PM Gabriel Oprea obviously will replace me with no problem.” Victor Ponta said that this time there will be no resting time for several weeks, but only a few days. “Those who have had problems with the meniscus know that a few days are needed, this time things are better.”

Prime Minister Victor Ponta was hospitalized on June 14 at Medipol University Hospital in Istanbul, where a day later was operated on his left knee, and returned to the country on July 8, after an absence of nearly a month.