BNR Warns: Risk of New Taxes Could Affect Pensioners and Seniors

The National Bank of Romania (BNR) has issued a warning over the precarious state of public finances, stressing that the country risks introducing new taxes if budgetary imbalances persist. This situation could have a direct impact on pensioners and older adults, who rely heavily on fixed incomes.

The BNR's First Deputy Governor explained that the state is spending beyond its means and that the budget deficit remains at a worrying level. Without swift corrective measures, the fiscal pressure will intensify — meaning pensioners could be affected through higher taxes or reductions in social benefits.

Romania's situation is considered more vulnerable than that of other countries in the region. Although the level of public debt is not the highest in Europe, financing costs are significantly greater, and the burden of interest payments is weighing ever more heavily on the state budget.

Financial specialists warn that breaching the 60% of GDP threshold for public debt considerably narrows the state's options and reduces its room for economic manoeuvre. This situation limits the government's ability to maintain current pension levels and other social benefits for older citizens.

The solution identified by experts is the rapid stabilisation of public debt through balanced fiscal measures. Otherwise, the bill will come due later and bring costs that are even harder to bear — including for the most vulnerable members of society: pensioners and older adults who no longer have the opportunity to supplement their income through work.