Romanian President urges PM Tariceanu to drop first car registration tax

Marţi, 11 martie 2008, 14:53 English | Top News

Romanian President Traian Basescu urged PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu via an official letter sent to the Chancellery on Tuesday to abandon the first car registration tax. The President proposes an emergency ordinance in this regard, arguing that the first car registration tax breaches the European Union legislation as among EU states no import or export taxes or other taxes with a similar effect are allowed.

PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu replied that he was offended by the letter and would return with an answer advising President Basescu not to send him letters any more. He said that Basescu, with whom he's been facing a neverending queue of conflicts, is using the issue for "cheap votes" in upcoming elections.

For his part, Emil Boc, the leader of the Democratic-Liberal Party who backs President Basescu, told Realitatea TV news channel that his group would initiate a censure motion against the government over the tax. Boc said the text of the motion has already been prepared.