President of the Senate Mircea Abrudean expressed hope that the governing coalition will reach a conclusion as soon as possible on the bill concerning magistrates’ pensions.

He said on Monday that there would be a formula that respects the principle of social fairness and that, once a decision is taken, there would be no parliamentary obstacle to adopting the bill by 28 November.

„I very much want this matter to be settled, just as I want the other outstanding issues to be settled, as I have repeatedly said here. I believe it will be concluded in a formula agreed within the coalition, one that respects the principle of social fairness, because that has been the core issue from the start, and most likely the coalition leaders will communicate on this topic, as that is the most appropriate approach. I do not want to speak ahead of time,” Abrudean said in Parliament.

Asked whether the bill on magistrates’ pensions could be adopted by 28 November in order to access certain funds under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), he explained that, from a parliamentary standpoint, ‘it would not be a problem if a decision were taken to proceed with the bill through a Government confidence vote”.

„I think we will see the final outcome, and I would not want to speak in advance on this topic. I have expressed a view which, from what I understand, has also carried weight in the coalition discussions, so I hope we reach a conclusion as soon as possible — ideally today,” the Senate president said.

In his view, the Government will not trigger a confidence vote this week.

„I do not think it will be this week: today we have the plenary sitting and a simple motion in the Senate, tomorrow we have a joint plenary sitting on TVR, Radio and AEP, so I do not think this will be the case this week — but of course things may change,” he added.

Asked whether the third package of measures for which the Government will assume responsibility will also include steps aimed at economic recovery, Mircea Abrudean replied: „Certainly — the PNL [the National Liberal Party] supports all measures for economic recovery.”

„We are a liberal party and that is our mission, but we must take into account the current budgetary constraints, and any economic recovery measures must be properly underpinned by the budget now being drafted. So, certainly, I believe there will be a discussion in the coalition in the immediate period ahead, and some much-needed proposals will be put forward. We also have measures that have been worked on, our committee members who are very knowledgeable on this matter, and these will be discussed in the coalition, and we will see the final formula that will be presented,” Senate President Abrudean went on to say. AGERPRES