The government assumes responsibility for the pensions of the magistrates: “We eliminate the waste and privileges, we cut the sine”
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan presented in the Parliament on Monday night, the package of reforms for which the Government assumes responsibility, the first aimed at the pensions of the magistrates. The Romanian magistrates will not be able to retire at 48, and the amount of the pension will not represent 100% of the last salary.
Bolojan in Parliament Photos Photos / Octav Ganea
The retirement age will gradually increase to 65, the minimum age required will be raised from 25 to 35, and the pensions will be capped to 70% of the net income. “Even with these adjustments, pensions remain considerable, at 14,000–15,000 lei. Is a law for equity and confidence in justice, not against magistrates“, The prime minister said.
We play below the speech of Prime Minister Bolojan:
A month and a half ago I passed, with the support of the Parliament, the first package of measures intended to reduce the budget deficit and to restore international trust in the Romanian economy. It included unpopular, but necessary measures, which the whole country had to bear. I thank the Romanians for their patience and confidence, for understanding the situation we are in and the need for fast radical measures.
We pay today the price of many years in which we, the political class, made us not see the budget realities, did not receive our income, we spent too much and we started investments without having funds to finish them. I did not tell the truth of fear not to scare people, or, in the electoral context, not to lose votes, not to upset the local elected officials, to thank the party asset. But this political class is called today to prove that he has learned the lesson received in recent polling cycles. Too much our good intentions with performance were confused. Some believed that it was enough to start projects and made expenses today without thinking about tomorrow. I do not stay away from saying these things, but it is not a time of lamentations, no witch hunting. We need to go to action to correct injustices and clean.
Privileges, sinecles and waste in the state apparatus
I would like to present you very briefly the picture of the functioning of our state, which today is, in many places, full of injustices. We have in many places privileges, special, exceptions, waste and self. Everyone is doing as he can. In many places, some hire their relatives, others increase their allowances, others make false reports to collect more. And then, I ask you: this is Romania that we want? Is this Romania that we want to leave to our children and grandchildren? I say no. Therefore, please support the entire package of reforms and all the projects for which today we engage the Government's liability before the Parliament. When I started the whole approach, I said that we have 3 directions of principle – order in the finances of our country, good governance and respect for citizens. These remain our landmarks. I want to thank my office colleagues who worked on this set of measures, because it was a team effort of all ministers, regardless of the political color. I know that it is not a perfect legislative package, but it is the beginning of the Romanian state's reassessment on the basis of fairness and respect for Romanians.
This set of measures brings equity, eliminates waste and privileges, cuts sinecles and brings respect for people and justice. In a word, a more correct state with the Romanians. If we need to adjust some policies, we will do it. If we can ease the tax burden on people, without unbalanced the economy again, we will do it. I believe that, somewhere in the middle of the next year, if it goes on, we will find that we have achieved a course correction. From there there are growth prospects. One thing I will not change, however: I will continue to tell people the truth, without cosmetizing reality, I will not sell illusions and empty hopes. As long as I have the support of my colleagues in the office and you, at the level of Parliament, I will go forward with confidence in our country and in its future.
The pensions of the magistrates
The first project for which we undertake the liability concerns the reform of the pensions of the magistrates. We must restore justice. We keep respect for magistrates, we understand their major contribution in society, but at the same time, we must ensure a dose of equity. The Romanian magistrates go to retire today at 48-49 years, an average pension in the judiciary goes through the value of 24,000 lei, but numerous pensions also reach 35,000-40,000 lei especially for the magistrates who also had management positions. By the reform we propose, there will be a transient period of 10 years, at the end of which the retirement of the magistrates will be done at 65, the standard retirement age in Romania.
The seniority in work required for retirement will increase from 25 years to 35 years, as is the case for other citizens. So far, the amount of the pension was 100% of the last net remuneration, I capped this percentage to 70% of the net income for the last month. Even with this decrease, the pensions of the magistrates remain considerable. It is difficult to say that an average pension of 14,000-15,000 lei does not ensure the independence and respect that a magistrate needs, according to international norms or the Constitution.
I have seen the protests of the magistrates and I want to be clear that it is not a law against the magistrates, but a law for equity and for confidence in justice. The magistracy remains a fundamental pillar of the rule of law, and our respect for it is not in question. I ask you to support so that, together, we will give a clear signal that Romania can be driven with responsibility and respect for the principles we have assumed
