Bolojan, about the protest of the magistrates: “If the activity is partially suspended, morally it would be that the remuneration should be suspended”
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan wanted to score on Friday, on the occasion of the balance sheet of 100 days of activity at the Victoria Palace, that the magistrates dissatisfied with the special pensions reform who partially suspended their activity, risk having partially suspended salaries.
Magistrate salaries could be partially suspended if they protest
“Personally I have nothing to do on this issue, I think the Ministry of Justice can initiate a dialogue with the magistrates, with the CSM. If the activity is partially suspended, the salary would be partially suspended in part.“said Ilie Bolojan.
He referred to the position of the magistrates in relation to the citizens.
“I do not think there is respect for the Romanian citizens, some of them depend on one sentence or another and need a decent public service.”said Ilie Bolojan.
The judges of several courts in the country have decided to suspend, from August 26, the settlement of cases, except for emergencies. The magistrates demand the withdrawal of the draft law on the reform of the magistrates' service pensions. The prosecutors also joined this endeavor, who announced that they suspend their activity, with some exceptions concerning preventive measures deprived of liberty or issuing protection orders.
The protests of the Romanian magistrates were triggered as a reaction to the changes proposed by the government led by Ilie Bolojan regarding their service pensions. The changes are aimed at extending the retirement age and limiting the amount of pensions. These measures are considered by magistrates as unconstitutional.
Towards the end of August, the ruling coalition announced that it was preparing changes in the magistrate's pension law. The transition period for increasing the retirement age of the magistrates will be 15 years, and not 10 years, as originally provided, according to sources from the coalition. At the same time, the magistrate's service pension will not exceed 75% of the income in the last month of activity, compared to 70% as initially established.
Initially it was about applying a share of 70% of the net salary, instead of 80% of the gross platform. Following the application of this formula in the 2 measures package, the pensions of the former magistrates will be reduced, reaching almost half of the current amount, according to the “Adevărul” calculations.
The calculations were carried out taking into account the latest official data on the magistrates (before reducing the increase for harmful conditions) that reflect the current level of payment pensions and the future reduction of the amount, related to the net income, not the gross one.
For example, according to the official data analyzed by “Adevărul” – published on March 31, 2025 – the gross salary of a regular judge from a court is between 19,000 and 23,600 lei, to which are added many other bonuses, such as increased conditions of work, dangerous or harmful – 1500 lei; Spor for risk and neuropsychic overload and increase for confidentiality – 5,580 lei.
As such, the monthly gross salary of an ordinary court judge is 30,881 lei, respectively a net of almost 18,000 lei a month.
Currently, such a judge can retire at 48 years old and can receive 80% of the gross salary, ie more than those who work and pay contributions to pensions and health, plus income tax. That is, a pension of 24,700 lei, compared to the nearly 18,000 lei salary that they would receive if they worked.
The initial intention of the government to reduce the amount of the pension to 70% of the net salary, instead of 80% of the gross income aroused the dissatisfaction of the judges, given that the pension would be only 12,600 lei, almost half compared to the pension of 24,700 lei that can be collected now.
