Romania finally streamlines its state apparatus

Romania's town halls are to present their plans by the end of next week on reducing staff over the coming months. The government has promised the IMF it will dismiss at least 74,000 public sector employees this year. The weekly Dilema Veche is happy to see the end of a pernicious tradition: "The whole world knows that the state apparatus is overloaded and inefficient. ... There is a long tradition of employing large staffs at public institutions. We're not just talking about creating posts for all kinds of relatives, friends, lovers and political pals. It's more than that. It's a real 'culture'. ... The state belongs to us yet doesn't belong to anyone at the same time. It is 'an entity' that gives us things and must take care of us; that we can shout at when we're angry, but of which we otherwise take little notice and for which we somehow don't feel responsible. ... If the IMF and the EU hadn't obliged us to cut staff - in return for a loan - this thoughtless behaviour would have just continued."

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