The new organisational chart of the Senate resulting from a recent staff reshuffle has been approved by the Standing Bureau, and it will be put to a vote at a Monday’s plenary session.

„Considering the current budgetary context that calls for capping public spending, as well as the fact that the current organisational chart of the Senate was approved in 2013, and the evolution over time of the internal institutional organisation has determined the emergence of new activities, and also moving of some activities online, it is necessary to update the chart, so as to reduce and streamline the allocation of financial resources by redesigning the organisational chart of the Senate and the reduction of certain expenditures,” reads an internal memorandum approved by the Standing Bureau on Monday.

The current organisational chart – with the 796 budgeted positions – no longer provides the functions necessary to carry out an efficient parliamentary activity.

„Under the current budgetary limitations, it is necessary to create a new organisational chart, with a smaller number of departments and implicitly with a smaller number of functions. The reorganisation measures concern the entire organisational makeup of the Senate, which is resized to meet the current needs of the current legislature, as well as the legal provisions in force by abolishing some positions and streamlining the internal information flows.”

A few dozen employees protested before the Standing Bureau, who asked for dialogue. They carried placards with the messages: „We are not just numbers. Human resources are not reduced to mathematics”, „Senate employees, essential for democracy. Not superfluous expenses!”, „200,000 euros – savings. But at what cost for democracy?”, „We want reform, not chaos!”, „Stop the sacrifice of loyal employees for illusory economies”, „No transparency, no justice.”

„Those in power are spineless politicians. They do nothing but carry out what their masters from abroad say. (…) The exams of public servants do not really reflect the reality and experience of the people, especially in the Romanian Parliament. An analysis should have been made, an audit to see who should leave and who should not,” said Senate quaestor Ninel Peia (S.O.S. Romania), applauded by the protesters because, according to them, „he was the only one who defended them.”

AGERPRES