ROMANIAN PRESIDENT, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PD-L CANDIDACY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS Băsescu: Either we make it out of the crisis together, or none of us will

N.I.

President Traian Băsescu, said to members of the Liberal-Democratic Party who attended the inauguration of the candidates for the European Parliament, that they should not use the crisis as an excuse for postponing the reform of the state.

Mr. Băsescu said that the Democratic Liberal Party (PD-L) has the duty to promote three major laws, including the Law for Public Sector Wages, the Pension Law and the Fiscal Responsibility Law, as quoted by NewsIn.

The head of state said: "The crisis is not an excuse to put the reform process on hold. Aside from decentralizing and downsizing the administrative apparatus, there are three laws you have to pass this year, which must submitted to the Parliament and approved.

The first is the Law concerning remuneration for public sector workers, the second is the Pension Law. I know this party since 1992. You"ve been talking about fairness all this time. You have a chance to bring fairness back when it comes to public sector salaries and pensions. Do it!".

The third law that Băsescu was referring to is the Fiscal Responsibility Law, which the president says restricted the use of the state budget without the agreement of the Legislative and Executive powers.

"No one should consider the budget a bottomless purse that we can all take money from as we please", the President said, in defense of this law.

Băsescu said that social solidarity could help weather the economic crisis, and expressed his hope that the first signs of economic recovery will show up soon.

"Either we all make it out of the crisis, or none of us will, that"s what solidarity is about".

Băsescu reminded that the Governor of the National Bank considers the month of June could bring about the first signs of economic recovery, but he said he would not rush into making a definite forecast. "I remain optimistic, but I don"t want to jump to conclusions", Băsescu concluded.