Sorin Grindeanu says that now it depends on Minister Pîslaru whether Romania will receive the money from PNRR for the reform of magistrates' pensions / Reactions of USR and UDMR

The PSD leader says that now it only depends on the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragoș Pîslaru, appointed in the PNL Government, for Romania to receive the 231 million euros from the PNRR for the reform of magistrates' pensions. Sorin Grindeanu also explains the public message he sent shortly before the CCR decision, in which he said he hoped “that today we will have a final decision at the Constitutional Court of Romania on the subject of special pensions”.

• The deadline imposed by the European Commission for the fulfillment of the milestone regarding the reform of magistrates' pensions was November 28, 2025.

“It's very good that this subject has finally been clarified. You know that I did not comment and will not comment on CCR decisions from now on either. I also made a call for a decision to be made. It's good that the subject was closed today. From now on, it's up to Minister Pîslaru to do his job as a minister and not to lose that money we've been talking about,” Sorin Grindeanu said on Wednesday, at the Parliament.

“Please ask Minister Pîslaru”, Grindeanu said when asked by journalists if Romania can still receive the 231 million euros from the PNRR.

Just a few minutes before the CCR decided on the law, the PSD president, Sorin Grindeanu, posted a message on Facebook: “I hope that today we will have a final decision at the Constitutional Court of Romania on the subject of special pensions. It is an issue that has cost us extremely much, both as a country and as a society. Making a clear decision is necessary, because this is what Romanians expect from the fundamental institutions of the state. I am convinced that, in the end, wisdom will he won the cause!”.

Controversy surrounding former PSD minister Florin Iordache

Asked by Euronews Romania why Florin Iordache, former PSD Minister of Justice and currently president of the Legislative Council who, according to Euronews, was seen having discussions in the CCR offices, was at the CCR before the meeting, Grindeanu said he did not know. Asked if Iordache tried to put pressure on the CCR judges, Grindeanu reacted: “But why are you asking me?”.

“Why should I know about what Florin Iordache is doing? Is he president or what is his position, director, at the Legislative Council. I never have any other type of discussions, Florin Iordache is no longer a member of the PSD”, said the president of the social democrats.

The leader of the UDMR deputies, Csoma Botond, also commented on the information and said that “I can't explain what Mr. Florin Iordache was looking for there”, then added: “I think it would have been better not to go, he can drink coffee elsewhere”.

Contacted by HotNews, Florin Iordache said that “I drive there. We have offices and common room (n. ed.: Legislative Council with CCR). If I drive on the same corridor with… That's our access”. Asked if he had any discussion with the CCR judges, Iordache denied.

The offices of the Legislative Council are located in the Parliament, as are those of the CCR. The two institutions have their offices in the same area, but on different floors.

Dominic Fritz: “There will be more fights”

USR President Dominic Fritz said after Wednesday's CCR decision that today it was established “and formally what was clear for an entire country: that the reform of special pensions and the retirement age of magistrates is constitutional and legitimate.”

“Today is not a victory, but a gesture of normalcy. It is also an affirmation of democracy: the political mistakes of the past can be repaired through the political vote. There are no spaces in society where the rules of the game cannot be changed through moral clarity and commitment. I am glad that the USR has been, for many years, together with many in civil society, on the right side of history,” wrote Dominic Fritz on Facebook.

He says that “those who are not going to accept today's decision with applause” will also: “There will still be fights”.

“But today's decision paves the way for reforms that reduce privileges and the influence of special interests. Because that's the only way Romania can heal,” Fritz added.

UDMR: “Ration also won at CCR”

UDMR MP Csmona Botond told journalists at the Parliament on Wednesday that although it took a long time to make a decision, she is happy for today's result.

“I am glad that, in the end, reason prevailed at the CCR and, in my opinion, they made a very good decision. Unfortunately, it took quite a long time for them to reach this decision, but it is very good that in the end they decided that the normative act adopted by the Government by assuming responsibility is a constitutional act,” he told journalists.

“I hope that we will get the 231 million euros. It is still an important amount, we have to do with that amount in Romania's budget”, he explained.

The judges of the Constitutional Court decided on Wednesday, after five adjournments, that the law increasing the retirement age of magistrates and reducing the amount of service pension is constitutional. The decision was taken by 6 votes to 3.

The six judges who voted to reject the ÎCCJ referral and declare the law as constitutional are Simina Tănăsescu, Iulia Scântei, Dacian Dragoș, Mihaela Ciochină, Csaba Asztalos and Mihai Busuioc.

Bogdan Licu, Gheorghe Stan and Cristian Deliorga voted to declare the law unconstitutional. The three were part of the group that in December left the meeting room and blocked a decision. The group also included Mihai Busuioc, who now voted for the adoption of the rejection of the ÎCCJ referral. All four were appointed to the CCR with PSD's support.