A new law on the magistrates’ pensions
The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest has endorsed a draft law, which completely changes the retirement rules in the country’s legal system
Roxana Vasile, 24.04.2025, 14:00
There are several occupational categories in Romania whose employees are usually retiring under the age of 50 and whose pensions aren’t exclusively based on their contributions to social insurances during their career, like the rest of the pensioners.
And that prompted the majority of Romanians to believe the magistrates, servicemen and policemen belong to a special category of pensioners, an intangible cast.
This is because in pre-election times, aspiring politicians have pledged to bring amendments to the laws under which these so-called ‘service-pensions’ are being calculated. However, after being elected, all these pledges remained unfulfilled, much to the disappointment of the population, who has often denounced these major inequities.
Against this background in the first half of the year, the European Commission partially approved Romania’s third payment request part of the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience (PNRR) but later suspended it on six unmet goals, among which the failure to amend the law regulating these ‘service pensions’.
In other words, unblocking 230 million Euros out of the aforementioned PNRR also hinges on the endorsement of a new pension law.
The third payment request entails essential reforms and investment aimed at generating positive changes, with emphasis on green and digital transition, sustainable transportation, energy renewal, business environment, urban mobility, tourism and culture, medical assistance, social reforms, good governance or education.
As Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu bluntly puts it, Romania must amend the special pension law as it cannot afford to lose European money. As a result, the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest, on Wednesday endorsed a draft law under which magistrates would retire at the age of 65 starting January 1, 2026 like the rest of the employees.
In its initial form, the document stipulated the retiring age for the magistrates would gradually increase until the year 2045. The MPs voted differently though.
Furthermore the service pension would account for 80% of the monthly pay and the bonuses of the past 48 months of activity. However, the pensions of the prosecutors and judges will account for the payment of the last month of activity without the inclusion of other incomes or holiday pay.
After the MPs, senators will need to cast a decisive vote on the new draft, which has already attracted a lot of heat from the Higher Council of the Magistrates, who believes that its endorsement will be affecting the independence of the judiciary. Although still under discussion, a part of the press in Romania is speaking about a ‘historic law’ whereas another part has described it as ‘mere dust in people’s eyes’.
Opposition MPs have drawn attention to the fact that issues related to unconstitutionality might destroy a bill, which, otherwise could prove to be a good one.
(bill)
