Grindeanu declares himself “pessimistic” regarding the construction of highways in 2026. “I'm a little scared”
A7 highway near Buzău / Source: Youtube – RaducuPDrum
PSD President Sorin Grindeanu, Minister of Transport in the governments of Ciucă and Ciolacu, stated, on Wednesday evening, on Digi24, that he is “pessimistic” regarding the pace of highway construction this year due to the lack of predictability of the payments that the Romanian state makes to the builders.
Sorin Grindeanu said this year should be a peak year for highway construction, with 250 kilometers put into use, but said he has reservations that the goal will be reached.
“There was no more predictability”
“The pace was no longer the same as in previous years. The builders built roads. In 3 years, 400 km were built because there was mutual trust between me as minister and the builders. Last year this was no longer valid. There was no longer predictability. The works were not paid in the manner in which there were payment commitments at the beginning of the year. I am a little afraid of the projects on the PNRR,” said the PSD leader.
He showed that, in order to obtain financing through the PNRR, the Moldovian Highway must be ready by Pașcani, in August.
“Now it's in Bacău. We're at the limit. We're concerned that the builder doesn't have capacity, we all know it. There's no very clear prioritization and trust (…) I'm pessimistic looking at last year. After May-June I saw a lack of predictability in the rhythmicity with which the bills are paid. The builders knew every month how much they were getting, while I was minister”, believes Grindeanu.
He added that he is waiting for the budget figures to know if there will be the necessary resources to complete the sections as scheduled.
“Romania, without European money, would not even have half of the highways”. The example provided by a country four times smaller
Support for military pension reform
Asked how he sees Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's intention to reform the military pension systems, Sorin Grindeanu said that, in principle, he agrees with the intention, but what matters is how this measure will be implemented.
“An imbalance has been created because we are talking about magistrates where a percentage of 62-63% of the gross has been the pension, while in other categories the percentage is high. It is a matter that we have to see how he thinks, we will certainly put our point of view”, commented the leader of the social democrats.
He said that care must be taken as to how the reform will be regulated in the case of the military and those who fought in the theaters of operations (among which were also employees of the MAI).
“As a principle, it's ok. That with age, it has to come to a reasonable one. You can't retire at 50,” Grindeanu added.
Bolojan proposes differentiated retirement ages
Ilie Bolojan wants to continue the reform of special pensions with those of the MAi and MApN: “We intend to come up with draft laws in March” / What the Prime Minister says about the pension cumulation with the salary
The Prime Minister announced, on Wednesday evening, that the Government will draft laws in March to increase the retirement age for the other categories with special pensions, referring to military pensions, within the MAi, MApN and the secret services.
“I believe that for all systems in which retirement is allowed at an age such as 51-52, where the pension is as much as the last salary, things must be corrected not only from the point of view of obvious inequities and which have generated justified dissatisfaction, but also from the point of view of the sustainability of the pension system and a healthy economy. If the retirement age does not increase, we will be in a situation where we will not have anyone to replace them,” said Bolojan.
However, he nuanced how military retirement will be done. He gave the example of categories that, due to the effort required by the difficult working conditions, will still benefit from a faster retirement. In contrast, other categories will work “without problems” until the age of 65.
“It is about the employees belonging to the Ministry of the Interior, the area of Defense, the area of public order and national security. (…) The systems will be discussed with the specialists from the ministries. Every year in difficult conditions, an additional bonus should be given, but I cannot comment on the details. A transitional period is needed in order not to have shocks in the system, but this is the direction”, stated the head of the Executive.
