Bucharest proposes reform of judges' pensions
In Romania, the government plans to raise the retirement age for judges and prosecutors from 48 to 65 and cut their pensions. The Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM), their professional association, immediately launched a complaint against the reforms. The draft law proposed by the ruling camp's presidential candidate Crin Antonescu faces several hurdles before it can be implemented. Commentators take stock.
Completely out of touch with reality
Commenting in republica.ro, journalist Alex Livadaru voices anger with the judges:
“They found it 'unacceptable' that they would no longer be allowed to retire at 48 – an age when one is normally at the peak of one's career and in theory mature enough to weigh things up fairly in a courtroom. And they are outraged that their retirement age is to be raised to 65 - just like for all us ordinary people. ... Let the gentlemen of the judiciary point to other European countries where people retire after 25 years of service - with a pension that is 7, 10 or even 12 times the average pension in that country. ... What justice or jurisprudence can we actually expect from such servants of the law?”
All about the presidential election
For the Romanian service of Deutsche Welle this has more to do with election campaigning than with a genuine desire for reform:
“The revolutionary provisions passed by the Chamber of Deputies must also be approved by the Senate - who knows when. ... After that they will end up in the Constitutional Court, which will no doubt reject them. The PSD-PNL-UDMR presidential candidate, Crin Antonescu, is playing the role of a campaign decision-maker whom the coalition must support unconditionally. The majority in parliament acts like an obedient apprentice who must pass any bills presented to him. ... One must admit that this strategy has been well thought out by his campaign team.”