Ciprian Ciucu wants to eliminate the free STB for pensioners with high incomes. What does the initiative of the general mayor SOURCES provide
Tens of thousands of pensioners in Bucharest may no longer benefit from free public surface transport. According to the information obtained by Adevărul, the new general mayor, Ciprian Ciucu, proposes the elimination of this support for retirees with pensions higher than 3,000 lei. The initiative is still under analysis and could undergo changes, especially since Ciprian Ciucu does not currently have a clearly defined majority in the General Council.
Ciprian Ciucu. PHOTO: Inquam Photos / Octav Ganea
Faced with major operational problems, generated by the imbalance in the allocation of funds between the Capital City Hall and the sector town halls, the municipality is obliged to reduce, as much as possible, its expenses and increase its revenues. The most important amounts from the PMB budget are allocated annually to subsidies for public transport and thermal energy, which together amount to approximately 2.5 billion lei, i.e. half of the Capital's budget.
Last week, in the first meeting of the General Council with Ciprian Ciucu as mayor, the key projects on the agenda failed to vote. It is about the increase in fares at the Bucharest Transport Company, but also about the abolition of some institutions considered by the new management as budgetary “black holes” – the Lumina Cultural Center, the Art Expo and the Youth Center.
The deadlock appeared against the background of the impossibility of forming a majority around the PNL. USR voted alongside the liberals, as did REPER, but the party founded by Dacian Cioloș was not in full form. Cezar Cobianu, one of the REPER advisors, lost his life at the beginning of this year, not being replaced until now, and Cătălin Teniță, the group leader, could not participate in the entire meeting, being hospitalized. The surprise, however, came from the PMP advisors. Although immediately after the elections they promised support to Ciprian Ciucu, at the vote they joined the “opposition”, made up of PSD, AUR and PUSL. A simple calculation shows that Ciucu could still form a majority without PSD, AUR and PUSL votes, provided full support from USR, PNL, REPER, PMP and Forța Dreptei, which totals 29 councillors.
Ciucu wants to cut the gratuity for pensioners with incomes over 3,000 lei
Another project should have been on the agenda of the meeting, which aims to eliminate the gratuity granted to pensioners with pensions higher than 3,000 lei. Currently, all pensioners in Bucharest benefit from this facility, regardless of income level, provided they have reached the legal retirement age – 63 years (women) and 65 years (men).
This situation has generated cases considered absurd. For example, the former president of the Constitutional Court, Valer Dorneanu, beneficiary of four special pensions, with a cumulative value of approximately 10,000 euros, could, theoretically, benefit from this gratuity. Former parliamentarians, beneficiaries of special pensions for legislative activity, are in similar situations. Among them are the former prime ministers Adrian Năstase and Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, the former Minister of Education, Ecaterina Andronescu, as well as the former PSD senator Șerban Mihăilescu, nicknamed “Miky Șpagă”.
According to an answer sent by STB to Libertatea's request, there are approximately 160,000 pensioners in Bucharest who benefit from free public surface transport.
However, the project did not come to a vote, as there are still discussions regarding the income ceiling up to which the gratuity would be granted. Most likely, if Ciprian Ciucu reaches a consensus with the parties that support him in the General Council, the initiative will be included on the agenda of the next meeting.
