Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan reiterated on Wednesday his belief that people with disabilities should pay local taxes to support the development of infrastructure in their communities.
"This is a serious issue that requires careful discussion, as it can be misleading rhetorically. Did you know there are 957,000 people with disabilities in Romania? When we removed exemptions from healthcare contributions, the only group that remained exempt - while millions of others were already exempt - was people with disabilities. Despite requiring substantial medical services, they were also not paying property taxes on apartments or vehicles. In fact, around 10% of Romania's housing stock was untaxed, representing significant revenue for local authorities," Bolojan explained to Digi FM.
He said local authorities need funds for paving parking lots and streets, and it is 'reasonable' for everyone to contribute 20-30 euros per year to services provided by the town hall.
"One problem we have had over the years in Romania is the proliferation of exemptions. Someone has to pay to make these things happen. I believe, honestly, that it is fair and correct for all citizens who pay taxes to contribute where they benefit from services. Even with exemptions, they still receive state support," the prime minister added.
Bolojan also highlighted that some disability certificates may not have been issued legally and requested that the Ministries of Labour and Health investigate these cases.
"Outside of fully justified cases, if we look at the statistics and trends, some certificates issued in Romania are certainly not valid. I have asked the Ministries of Labour and Health to take measures to verify these cases because the statistics are distorted. In one county, Mehedinti, for example, nine of 11 customs officers have disabilities. We have communes where percentages are extremely high, and there are documented cases of doctors and commissions abusing the system," he said.
He emphasised that funds intended for people with disabilities should go to the few hundred thousand individuals with serious health problems.
Regarding greenhouse taxation, he clarified that it targets only industrial-type constructions, not garden greenhouses built without permits.
"Taxing greenhouses at 0.5%, a 50% discount compared to other buildings, applies only to industrial greenhouses. A backyard greenhouse built without a permit, simply for personal use, is not taxed. So the rhetoric about taxing small greenhouses does not hold," the prime minister went on to say.
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