The Opposition is preparing for a new contestation with the Court: why the new tax is unconstitutional

Amending the Fiscal Code via an Emergency Government Ordinance for the purpose of increasing VAT is being strongly contested by the Social Democrats and the Liberals, with both parties agreeing to discuss today whether they can attack the Government's decision with the Constitutional Court.

The Opposition claims that the new Fiscal Code, which will increase VAT to 24%, cannot be modified via an Emergency Government Ordinance, as the Government wants, but by law and that, in any case, the modifications cannot enter into force earlier than six months later (so not on July 1st 2010 but on January 1st 2011 at the earliest). Reasons enough for the National Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party to contest the decision with the Constitutional Court.

The problem is that the ordinance can only be contested after it arrives in Parliament, and the Executive may attempt to delay its adoption by the Legislative. The National Liberal Party has already said yesterday that it is considering notifying the Ombudsman. "We believe there are some procedural and constitutional issues related to adopting such a measure via an Emergency Government Ordinance and our specialists from the party's Judicial Commission will decide the means of action to try and show this, eventually by contacting the Ombudsman", stated National Liberal Party spokesperson Mihai Voicu.

Gandul