Romanian Justice Minister advocates for pension modifications among judiciary officials
Romania's Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, has declared his support for reforming the special pension system for magistrates. The proposed changes aim to raise the retirement age to 65 years and cap pensions at a maximum of 70% of the last net salary.
According to Bolojan, these reforms are based on an analysis of EU countries, where the typical retirement age for magistrates is 65, with pensions calculated as a percentage of their recent net earnings, usually around 60-70%. He highlighted issues with the current system, such as early retirements (around 47-49 years) that cause sustainability and workforce replacement problems.
The reform also proposes increasing the years of service required for a full pension from 25 to 35 years, with penalties for early retirement to encourage longer careers and financial sustainability.
Discussions about the pension reform proposals have already begun with the judiciary and the legal community. However, consensus has yet to be reached. President Nicuşor Dan has engaged with magistrates, but an agreement has not been reached. Public pressure is mounting, with over 85,000 citizens petitioning for a referendum on special pensions.
Justice Minister Radu Marinescu has confirmed that the amendment of magistrates' pension laws can be made constitutionally and legally. He emphasized the importance of respecting the principles of the rule of law during the discussions and legislative process. The pension reform proposals are politically agreed benchmarks by the ruling coalition.
Despite the ongoing discussions, the Justice Minister, Radu Marinescu, has not publicly expressed a personal stance on the special pension reform. The focus has primarily been on Prime Minister Bolojan’s proposals and the government’s broader fiscal reform strategy, which includes tackling special pensions as part of structural reforms mandated by EU recovery plans.
In summary, the government, led publicly by Prime Minister Bolojan, is pushing for raising retirement age and capping pensions for magistrates, with ongoing discussions involving the judiciary and legal community, but no firm agreement yet.
The government's proposed pension reform for magistrates, spearheaded by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, is based on European Union countries' policies-and-legislation regarding magistrate retirements and pension calculations. This reform includes politics surrounding general-news topics such as early retirements, workforce replacement issues, and financial sustainability.
