Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09BUCHAREST622, ROMANIA: REVISED BUDGET FACES POLITICAL HURDLES

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09BUCHAREST622.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09BUCHAREST622 2009-09-14 05:43 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Bucharest
VZCZCXRO4573
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK
RUEHYG
DE RUEHBM #0622 2570543
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140543Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9890
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000622 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/CE ASCHEIBE 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EIND EFIN PGOV IMF RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA: REVISED BUDGET FACES POLITICAL HURDLES 
 
REF: A) BUCHAREST 563 B) BUCHAREST 573 
 
Sensitive but Unclassified; not for Internet distribution. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary.  Following revisions to Romania's accord with the 
IMF (ref A), the Government of Romania (GOR) has formally approved 
changes to its budget to reflect new fiscal realities.  This second 
budget "rectification" of the year allows the projected 2009 deficit 
to surge from 4.6 to 7.3 percent of GDP.  Despite the higher 
deficit, the GOR will still have to slash expenditures to adjust to 
the grim reality of declining tax revenues caused by sharply 
negative economic growth.  Most ministries will see their budgets 
cut, with personnel expenditures to be reduced by 15.5 percent 
between September and November, largely through the use of mandatory 
furloughs (ref B).  The jury is still out as to whether or not 
enough political will exists to carry out the public sector reforms 
mandated by the IMF.  End summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) On August 29 the Cabinet of Prime Minister Emil Boc 
approved the second budget rectification of the year, following the 
outlines of the IMF staff agreement (ref A).  The deteriorating 
fiscal outlook has forced the projected 2009 budget deficit up to a 
whopping 7.3 percent of GDP.  While much of the blame is 
attributable to the depth of the recession, which has surprised most 
analysts including the IMF, GOR budget decisions taken in 2008 are 
also driving the deficit.  At the same time that tax revenues for 
January-August 2009 fell by 6.9 percent of GDP, compared with the 
same period in 2008, public sector wage and pension increases along 
with other commitments made in 2008 actually pushed spending up by 
7.4 percent in the same period. 
 
3.  (SBU) In full crisis mode, the GOR has started slashing budgets 
across the board, with most ministries forced to accept reductions 
of up to 14 percent from the previous allocations made in April. 
Immediate cuts are expected to total approximately 1.4 billion RON 
(470 million USD).  Certain key programs escaped the fiscal scalpel, 
however, with the Ministries of Economy, Interior, and Justice all 
receiving minor increases.  According to Ministry of Finance (MoF) 
Director for Macroeconomic Analysis and Financial Policies Dorin 
Mantescu, the budget rectification includes a 0.2 percent-of-GDP 
increase in capital expenditures (chiefly infrastructure 
investments), to be offset by personnel cuts.  Bonuses for public 
sector workers are on the chopping block, and formerly independent 
and self-financing state institutions are being forced to return all 
income to the state treasury. 
 
4.  (SBU) Most controversial among the announced measures are 
mandatory ten-day furloughs and long-term wage freezes for some 
categories of public workers.  Ministers have been directed to 
achieve a 15.5 percent reduction in personnel expenditures in the 
next three months, infuriating public sector unions.  Hoping to set 
a good example of shared sacrifice, Cabinet members have agreed to 
cut their own salaries by 20 percent through the end of the year. 
Tough talk from the unions, however, jeopardizes the other IMF 
priority, passing a unitary salary law that sets transparent wage 
rates across the government.  After 12 drafts, the GOR and unions 
are still far from a common position on this legislation despite the 
GOR's pledge to "assume responsibility" for the bill in Parliament 
on September 15.  If the GOR goes ahead, unions are threatening a 
general strike for October 5. 
 
5.  (SBU) Additional major staff cuts are expected in local 
governments, though likely not until after the presidential 
elections.  Mantescu of MOF hopes that layoffs will target surplus 
municipal employees rather than the short-staffed public education 
and health systems.  Pension reform is also on the agenda, although 
political consensus on how best to accomplish it is still absent. 
One logical step would be to eliminate the special status of 
military and intelligence services personnel, who are eligible to 
collect state pensions but currently pay no social security 
contributions.  Resistance to such reforms from the affected groups 
will of course be fierce. 
 
6.  (SBU) Comment.  Some commentators have observed that the number 
of public sector workers in Romania is not excessively high relative 
to the size of the population when compared with other EU member 
states.  The real problem lies with public sector organization, 
training, and productivity.  By most measures, government worker 
productivity has been stagnant or falling in recent years at the 
same time that public sector wages were rising by double digits.  If 
the GOR focuses exclusively on cutting employees, without a system 
to retain the best workers while weeding out the dead weight, then 
Romania will derive no long-term benefit from the current exercise 
and essential government services will suffer.  End Comment. 
 
GITENSTEIN