Former parliamentarians receive exorbitant pensions

Despite the difficult economic situation in Romania, special statutes grant luxurious pensions of around 5,700 euros per month to roughly a quarter of a million people including former parliamentarians and judges. The daily Adevărul admonishes: "Let us note: this is not money from heaven. It is our tax money. ... In the past 20 years no parliament and no government have been able to reduce these intolerably high pensions. ... It would have been normal for the government to take responsibility for this matter. But for that you need a functioning parliament! Our grand lawmakers do nothing but stare holes in the air. Why have they still not passed the laws that are necessary for a healthy democracy? Oh, of course, this is all about lawmakers' pensions. ... But time is running out. We are now obliged by the EU and the IMF to get things shipshape here at home."

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