The head of state made the statement during the congress of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), taking place in the Romanian northwestern city of Cluj–Napoca and which is also attended by Prime Minister Emil Boc, officials of the Democratic Liberal Party, Social Democratic Party and Liberal Party.
"I hope that by the end of the year, the Government’s commitments regarding decentralization and increased autonomy for local authorities materialize and don’t remain at the level of statements. And speaking of decentralized structures in the country, maybe the two governing parties will reflect more on the recently passed decree regarding decentralized services,” Basescu said and was met with a round of applause.
Basescu insisted on the stringent need for decentralization.
"We need to have the courage to say that Romania is not yet a modern state,” the president said, adding he hopes the government will at least manage to transfer schools to local authorities.
The emergency decree regarding the management of decentralized services took effect Wednesday evening, when it was published in the country’s Official Journal, and allows the replacement of all heads of decentralized services.
The decree allows the replacement of heads of local services subordinated to the government, such as local public healthcare departments, labor inspectorates, farming departments and county offices of the financial guard. The act also affects the education sector, where school inspectors may be replaced.