Platform
The party adheres to the doctrine of classical liberalism, advocating both economic and social liberalisation. In recent years, it has focussed more on economic liberalism. For example, one of its main election promises for the 2004 legislative election was the introduction of a flat tax rate of 16% for personal income and corporate profits. Because the Liberal Party became part of the governing coalition, it managed to introduce this change, hence giving Romania one of the most liberal tax policies in Europe.
The National Liberal Party also supports the neutrality of the state in moral and religious issues, as well as the privatisation and denationalisation of the economy, a trend which is currently taking place quite rapidly in Romania, as in other post-communist economies.
Additionally, the party supports the introduction of a parliamentary system (where the president would be elected by the parliament rather than by the people) to replace Romania's current semi-presidential system, which is based on the French model. It also advocates a decentralisation of Romania's political structure, with greater autonomy given to the eight development regions.
With regard to EU politics, the National Liberal Party has adopted the following stances:
- Supports EU enlargement to the Western Balkans
- Supports EU membership for Turkey, as long as it satisfies membership criteria
- Supports the accession of Moldova to the EU, in the same wave as the Western Balkans
- Supports a reformed European Constitution
- Supports reform of the Common Agricultural Policy
- Opposes a common EU tax policy
- Opposes a common EU social policy
- Supports a common EU migration policy
- Supports a common EU defence and security policy
- Supports a partnership between the US and the EU, where the EU is an "equal and critical" partner.
Read more about this topic: National Liberal Party (Romania)
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)