Romania: green light for judges' pensions reform
After five postponements, the Romanian Constitutional Court finally approved the planned reform of pensions for judges and prosecutors last week. The current system provides for pensions of up to 5,000 euros per month and retirement from the age of 48. The implementation of the reform is a condition for the disbursement of EU funds.
Paving the way for real justice
Journalist Emilian Isaila hails the reform as progressive on Spotmedia:
“It must be said that the judges are not to blame for creating this privileged pension system. It is the result of the decisions of former politicians who hoped to secure protection and leniency in corruption investigations and trials. And they did. ... But with the decision of the Constitutional Court we may now have reached a turning point. It could mark the beginning of genuine reform within the judicial system, thus strengthening taxpayers' confidence in justice and democracy.”
Still the danger of backpedaling
The Romanian service of Deutsche Welle remains sceptical:
“We won't feel the effects of the pension reform immediately. A transition period of 15 years is planned. Judges who have reached the age of 49 can still retire this year. The retirement age will then be progressively raised by one year each year until 2042. ... But nothing is irreversible in Romania. Judges and prosecutors already lost some of their privileges in the past, only to regain them and more besides. Because in our country, principles are relative and local politics is always about serving one's own interests.”