Update: PSD leaders meet on draft budget, FM Viorel Stefan criticized by leader Liviu Dragnea and PM Grindeanu

Finance Minister Viorel Stefan was heavily criticized by social-democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea on Tuesday and by PM Sorin Grindeanu, during the discussions on the draft budget for 2017. Minister Stefan was accused for not observing the PSD governing programme, social-democrat sources say.

PM Sorin Grindeanu, PSD leader Liviu Dragnea and the party leadership have gathered on Tuesday at the PSD offices in Baneasa to discuss with the ministers issues related to the state budget.

PSD leader claims “part of the ministers hasn’t understood that the governing programme has to be observed 100%. They decided, out of error, to decide on other funding than the ones according to our programme. Some institutions have budgets larger than needed. Fin Min Stafen understood he is to apply the governing programme, however, being his first meeting with the ministers, he has been softer than he should. There is no question about reshuffling,” Dragnea said.

PSD leader Dragnea was dissatisfied, when returning from the US, by the draft budget posted for debate. He reproached the Fin Min that the draft budget does not include several measures promised by PSD during the election campaign and that the amounts do not reflect the governing programme, digi24.ro reports.

According to sources, similar criticism was put forward by PM Grindeanu as well.

“When I returned to the country, I and the Prime Minister were dissatisfied by the draft budget. On Tuesday we will have discussions,” Liviu Dragnea said Monday evening.

Dragnea gave assurances that the final form of the budget will allot 2% of the GDP for defence.

“I don’t understand why the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) budget was increased. We haven’t received serious arguments. I don’t understand either why the presidential administration’s budget cut was of only 4%,” Dragnea said.

He added that the main interest is related to the governing programme funding, not by other issues that were not promised during the election campaign.