President Ion Iliescu and PM Adrian Nastase during their tAâaâcte-Aaâ¬c-tAâaâcte at the Cotroceni Palace yesterday concluded that early elections were not a priority for Romania, the President's spokesperson and presidential advisor Corina Cretu said at the end of the meeting.
Corina Cretu specified they had probably come to this conclusion after Ion Iliescu explained to the PM his reservations about organising early elections. These reservations are unrelated to "personal matters," but concern the best interests of the country.
When asked to clearly specify if the President and the PM agreed on this point of view, Cretu said," Mr. President feels this is what the PM thinks, as well."
The chief of state thinks the real priorities are the economic and social issues, the administration reform and fighting corruption, according to Cretu. She said the administration reform was a key-issue for Romania, both because it needed to provide the appropriate answers to the European Union's criteria, included in the 2002 country report and because it needed to make the administration as efficient and close to the citizens and their needs as possible.
"The reform may very well begin with a significant Government reshuffle, to diminish the central apparatus, to improve the administration structures, to optimise circuits, simplify procedures and cut red tape," the President's spokesperson said. Corina Cretu added such measures to simplify procedures and increase transparency were also needed locally, while the red tape reduction by introduction of computerised systems had to continue at a constant pace.
Cretu specified the President and the Prime Minister had not discussed concrete reshuffling issues, with those matters likely to be tackled during the meeting of the chief of state with the PSD (Social Democrat Party) leaders in January.
President Iliescu believes that fighting corruption requires every institution of the state to take the offensive, as those institutions have to send out powerful signals both domestically and abroad in order to show they are firmly determined to contain this corrosive phenomenon, which hinders the normal functioning of democracy and of the rule of law, Cretu said.
The chief of state believes the economic priorities are maintaining the necessary conditions for sustained and enduring economic growth, by maintaining the macroeconomic balance, curbing inflation, interest rates and unemployment. Ion Iliescu expressed hope that the living standards would improve in 2003 and that the needs of those part of the underprivileged segments of the Romanian society, that is pensioners, unemployed people, those on welfare and children would be more satisfactorily met.
Poverty remains the top social concern, and all the central and local decision makers have to make it their priority, with the public funds allocated to programmes in this regard to be spent as efficiently as possible, the presidential spokesperson says.
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