President Nicusor Dan said that the magistrates’ pensions must be reduced in relation to their salaries, however an amendment of the Constitution is not required to achieve this.

„It is not my intention, in any case, because it is an issue – society as a whole sees it – the fact that currently, the pension is equal to the salary. And society sees the solution, right? We need to reduce pensions in relation to salaries. There is no need to amend the Constitution in order to do this. It is a matter of administrative balance, so we can make the correct decision,” the president said in an interview with Romania TV private television station.

Nicusor Dan mentioned that if certain stages are followed in drafting the legislation, „a certain flexibility” from the European Commission is possible regarding compliance with the milestones.

„There is always a degree of flexibility in discussions with the Commission. In theory, by 28 November we must adopt the law. In order to adopt it, we need the opinion. It must also pass constitutional review and I must promulgate it – so there would be four stages. Now, it is possible to have a certain flexibility if we go through some of these stages, in relation to the European Commission,” the president explained.

According to him, it is necessary to correct mistakes which were made „a long time ago”, that have led to pensions in the justice system becoming equal to the salary.

„I believe everyone agrees that we must reduce magistrates’ pensions – the question is by how much – and we must raise the retirement age – the question is how gradual this transition should be. In short, it is a technical discussion,” the president conveyed.

AGERPRES