Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated on Monday, in the joint plenary session of the two Chambers, that the Government’s bill on magistrates’ pension reform is aimed at ensuring fairness and strengthening trust in the judiciary.
„II have taken note of the magistrates’ protests, but I want to be clear: this is not a law directed against them, but one meant to ensure fairness and strengthen trust in justice. The judiciary remains a cornerstone of the rule of law, and our respect for it is beyond doubt. I call for your support so that, together, we send a strong signal that Romania can be governed responsibly and in line with the principles we have committed to,” Bolojan said.
The prime minister highlighted the significant role magistrates play in society but underlined the need to introduce „a measure of fairness.” He undescored that justice must be restored while preserving respect for the judiciary.
In this regard, he pointed out that Romanian magistrates currently retire at the age of 48-49, with an average pension exceeding 24,000 lei. At the same time, many pensions reach 35,000-40,000 lei, particularly for magistrates who have also held leadership positions.
„Under the reform we are putting forward, there will be a 10-year transition period, after which magistrates will retire at 65, the standard retirement age in Romania. The required length of service will rise from 25 to 35 years, as is the case for other citizens. Until now, pensions equaled 100% of the last net salary; we have capped this at 70% of the final month’s net income. Even with this adjustment, magistrates’ pensions remain substantial. It is hard to claim that an average pension of 14,000-15,000 lei does not secure the independence and respect a magistrate needs, as provided for by international standards and the Constitution,” the prime minister said.
The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate convened on Monday for the Government’s assumption of responsibility on five draft laws from the second reform package, holding successive sessions for this purpose.
AGERPRES
