UDMR President Kelemen Hunor said in an interview with Digi24.ro on Wednesday that special pensions for those in public service – military, judges, diplomats, politicians – should receive “2, 3, 4, 5 points”. above the contribution and not to exceed the salary.

“We are stuck on special pensions. Because it is difficult to find a solution acceptable to everyone. The Commission’s demand was limited to 45% of income, the judges said 85%, the others 65%, but I can’t give you a decision because I don’t know. Each relevant minister should come, because he should hold negotiations with those in the relevant system and together with the minister of labor propose a solution,” said the vice-prime minister.

The leader of the UDMR says that 20% of Romanian citizens do not agree to the adjustment, but want the abolition of all special pensions “after this demagoguery of 12 years”.

Regarding the PNRR milestone in this regard, he states that there is still time to fulfill it, but “Romania cannot afford to lose money.”

“And if we lose money, we don’t even solve the promised problem and the people’s anger hits us rightfully,” the politician also specified (in full on Digi 24).

Consensus and not so much

Alina Gorgiou, the interim president of the Senate, said last Wednesday in Prima News that the law on special pensions will be adopted in this session of parliament, which shows that a consensus has been reached and all of them, the political class, have come to the conclusion that these special pensions must be adjusted.

“No one agrees that the pension should be higher than the last salary,” Gorgiou said, blaming the Labor Ministry, which was slow to draft the bill.

Alina Gorgiu noted that the last consultations with the Commission regarding special pensions are ongoing, so changes will be made in the Chamber of Deputies depending on the comments received.

“I am convinced that at this session of the parliament (the project will be adopted, no). The final form will be based on this institutional feedback,” Gorgiou said, clarifying that we are not at risk of losing money from the PNRR.

“Military pensions are not special pensions”

Regarding military pensions, Gorgiou noted that, in his opinion, these are not special pensions.

“Throughout Europe, the military has a special status, but not in a derogatory sense, but due to the profession, due to the contribution to the security system in Romania and the rest of the countries, the analysis should be done separately, and there are arguments. (..) I think that here we are talking about consensus at the coalition level,” she said.

Grindyan and the “radical solution”… in half

PSD Deputy Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu says that in the case of special pensions, a “radical decision” must be taken, that is, they should be completely abolished. However, he argues that an exception should be made for the military.

“My personal opinion – I also conveyed it to my fellow party members – a radical decision should be made: no special pensions. But not quite. There is no other way around this issue. It is my opinion. These things should be completely excluded. If this issue is not taken up, I do not see what solution will be reached so that the 3 billion will not be withdrawn. Romania cannot afford to lose 3 billion from PNRR. I support this decision. Of course, I will invite criticism, but I think that the other option does not work,” said the leader of the Social Democrats in a previous interview with Digi24.ro.

We remind you that in 2020, the Central Committee rejected the draft law adopted by the parliament, which provided for taxation of special pensions by 10% for those who receive a pension from 2001 up to 7,000 lei, and by 85% for those with more than 7,001 lei. .

The tax provided for by the contested law would have applied only to the amount that exceeded the upper limit of 2,000 lei and 7,000 lei, and only to that part which was not a contributory pension.

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