Witches threaten Romanian taxman after new labour law Self-declared witches in Romania are preparing to curse the country's rulers publicly for taxing their profession under an amended labour law.
Poisonous mandrake plants are due to be hurled into the River Danube and queen witch Bratara Buzea has devised a spell involving cat dung and a dead dog.
Income tax of 16% and health and pension payments have been imposed.
It was not immediately clear how car valets and driving instructors, also taxed for the first time, would react.
Their professions, along with those of witch, astrologer, fortune teller and embalmer, were not listed in the previous labour code, and therefore not subject to tax.
But now they have been classified as self-employed, as part of the cash-strapped government's push to collect more revenue and crack down on tax evasion.
Witchcraft, widely regarded in Europe as superstition, continues to fascinate some Romanians.
Accusations of sorcery have arisen in politics, the legal system and other areas of public life in recent years.
Great. Now all we need to do is to stop giving tax exemptions to all the other witches and wizards. Or nuns, priests and ministers as they're usually called ...
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
About me: I have prehensile eyebrows. I speak 9 languages fluently, one of which other people can also speak. When backed into a corner, I fit perfectly - having a right-angled arse.
Cat shit AND a dead dog? Overkill surely? Whatever happened to witchly subtlety?
A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return. Salman Rushdie You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic. House MD Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view. Sandy Denny This is the wrong forum for bluffing Paco Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish! Calilasseia I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants. Twoflower Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse Millefleur
