Basescu said there is an imminent risk for salaries and pensions to not be paid in December, referring to the scenario where the IMF and the EU halt the upcoming loan installments because there is no government.
He added in this context, any government, approved or provisional, will have to decide „where to stop payments”, namely a choice between paying salaries and pensions, and paying for investments.
The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said it will send a mission to Romania for its second review related to a EUR13 billion standby loan as soon as the country will have a new government.
The statement confirms an earlier announcement of Romanian President Traian Basescu, who said the IMF mission was delayed in the absence of a proper government.
Romania’s loan is in no danger whatsoever of being interrupted following the recent political events, IMF said.
„The IMF is closely following political developments in Romania and does not anticipate an interruption in the Stand-By Arrangement with the country or a change in policy as a result of these developments,” said Jeffrey Franks, IMF Mission Chief for Romania.
Franks said the IMF programs support „sound economic policies of partner countries” and not a particular government or party, mentioning the fund’s mission is scheduled to visit Romania once the new government is formed.
Romania’s centrist minority government led by premier Emil Boc collapsed on Tuesday after it failed a no-confidence vote in parliament, plunging the country into political crisis.
On Thursday, Basescu designated economist Lucian Croitoru to replace Boc and form a new Cabinet within the next ten days.
However, chances are the opposition might not back Croitoru’s nomination, as the parties favor a different candidate, namely Klaus Johannis, the mayor of central Sibiu city.