How small would the pensions of magistrates arrive if the special pensions reform is applied

The reform of the special pensions, which is talked about so long due to the inequities of the public pension system, would drastically reduce the income of the pensioners in the system, given the report of the net income that are paid, not to the gross income.

Magistrates' pensions would decrease considerably if the new calculation formula is applied

Specifically, at present, the 5,680 former judges and prosecutors, of which 3,122 did not contribute to the public pension system, are paid with an average pension of 25,258 lei (at the level of June – the last month for which the National Public Pension House presented the official data), almost 9 times higher than the average row pension of 2,813.

Of the amount of 25,258 lei, the average pension that a former prosecutor or judge receives, over 22,000 lei are transferred monthly from the state budget, ie from the taxes and taxes paid by all Romanians, as can be seen in the table below.

In order to regulate this inequity, but also to reduce the budget deficit, the Bolojan government intends to reform the special pensions system that the former magistrates benefit, on the one hand by prolonging the retirement age by 17 years (to 65, compared to 48 years at present), and on the other by changing the formula for calculating the amount.

Thus, the pension of the magistrates will no longer be calculated at the level of 80% of the gross salary on the branch, but at the level of 70% of the net salary on the branch, which will dramatically reduce the special fishermen, even to halve them in some cases, according to the calculations “Adevărul”.

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.

A former court judge would take 12,600 lei, compared to 24,700 lei at present

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; increase 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 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.

Former judges of the JCCJ would take 19,000 lei, instead of 37,000 lei

The official data consulted by the “Adevărul” show that the highest salaries are at the High Court of Cassation and Justice, as a naturally given that only the judges who promoted the INM and are at least 18 years old, in which the auditor period, ie the two years of ENG courses, enter.

According to the latest official information consulted by “Adevărul”, the president High Courts of Cassation and Justice (JCCJ) has a gross salary of almost 41,000 lei, to which are added the bonuses for working conditions, heavy, harmful or dangerous, increase for risk and neuropsychological overload and the increase for the value of 12.27 The allowance for the scientific title of doctor of 950 lei.

In total, just over 54,000 gross lei, ie a net of about 31,320 lei a month.

The current formula for calculating the pension, of 80% of the gross salary, would bring to the former president of the JCCJ a pension of 43,200 lei. In the case of applying the formula of 70% of the net salary, the pension would decrease to 21,924 lei.

A judge from the JCCJ currently has a gross salary between 33,714 and 36,194 lei, plus the aforementioned bonuses between 10,114 lei and 10,858 lei, resulting in a monthly income between 43,828 gross lei (25,400 net lei) and 47,052 gross lei (27,290 lei net).

The current pension, calculated at 80% of the payment in the payment is between 35,062 lei and 37,641 lei.

The application of the 70% quota to the net salary would lead to a decrease of the pension to 17,780 lei (compared to 25,062 lei at present), respectively 19,103 lei (compared to 37,641 lei).

And the pensions of the former judges of the courts of appeal would be halved

The revenues of the judges of the courts of appeal are lower than those of the supreme court, but also the age required for admission to the position is less, only 6 years old, compared to 18 years at the JCCJ.

Thus, the president of the Court of Appeal has a gross monthly income that also includes the bonuses for difficult conditions, neuropsychiatric overload, ensuring confidentiality, plus keeping the confidentiality of 39,000 lei, ie a net income of 22,600 lei.

The current pension is 31,200 lei, while by the new formula with 70% of the net income the pension would be 15,800 lei.

Regarding the gross monthly income of a court judge, it is included, depending on the seniority, between 30,096 lei and 34,726 lei, respectively a net income between 17,456 lei and 20,141 lei.

The current pension is included, in this case, between 24,077 lei and 27,780 lei, in the case of applying the new calculation formula of 70% of the net, being between 12,219 lei and 14,099 lei.

Pensions of former court judges

The latest official data regarding the allowances of the court judges, dated September 2024, shows that the court president has a gross income including the bonuses of 34,779 lei, respectively a net income of 20,172 lei.

The current pension is 27,823 lei, while the future (if the percentage of 70% of the net) will be 14,120 lei.

Reported to the gross salary of a court judge including the bonuses, between 26,080 lei and 30,680 lei, respectively a net between and between 15,126 lei 17,794 lei, the current pension is between 20,864 lei and 24,544 lei, the one reduced by applying the quota of 70% to the Net Benitul being between 10,588 lei and 12.456 lei.

And prosecutors' pensions halve

According to the latest official data on the allowances and bonuses of the prosecutors, the Attorney General has a gross monthly income that also includes the bonuses in the amount of 45,707 lei, respectively 26,510 lei net.

The current pension that would be due to a former magistrate with the same rank is 36,565 lei, which would almost halve at 18,557 lei by applying the 70% quota at the net income.

A chief prosecutor of the PÎCCJ section has a gross salary plus bonuses between 35,257 lei and 43,747 lei. In this case, the monthly net income is min. 20,449 lei and max. 25,373 lei.

And in this case the pension would diminish from min. 28.205 – max. 35,000 lei at 14,314 lei – 17,761 lei.

A prosecutor with PCA has a gross salary plus increases between 27,879 lei and 34,779 lei. The monthly net in this case is between 16,170 lei and 20,172 lei.

The current pension, calculated for a similar income, would be 22. 303 lei – 27,823 lei, the diminished one being 11,319 lei – 14,120 lei.

The same amounts are applied to those who have held the position of first prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the courts.

What provision of special pensions reform

The government published on Tuesday, July 29, the draft law on the restructuring of the service pensions of the magistrates and of the auxiliary staff from courts and prosecutor's offices.

Among the most important provisions of the project are:

– Increasing the standard retirement age at 65 for magistrates.

– the need for an age of at least 35 years in work, of which 25 years in specific legal positions.

– Reduction of the service pension from 80% to 55% of the average of the gross allowances and permanent bonuses of the last 60 months.

– Cleaning of the net pension at 70% of the net income of the last month of activity (previously it was 100%).

– Those with age between 20 and 25 years will be penalized additional, the amount of the pension being reduced by 2% of the calculation base for each year that is missing from the full age of 25 years in these functions.

In order to allow the adaptation to the new regulations, the project introduces a transition period between September 1, 2025 and January 1, 2029. By the end of this period, the retirement will be possible at a minimum age of 47 and 8 months, which will increase progressively up to 65 years.