Romanian Military, Police Retirees File Criminal Complaints Against Defense, Interior Ministers

Military staff and police officer unionists said their pensions were reduced by up to 60% after being recalculated. They said they submitted complaints with the Interior Ministry to determine authorities to renounce their decisions to recalculate pensions.

The Romanian High Court of Justice last week ruled to suspend the application of a Government decision on recalculating the pensions of military staff, police officers and public servants with special status, who work in penitentiary administration.

The High Court of Justice’s decision is definitive and upholds a decision ruled by the Cluj Court of Appeals on September 28, 2010. Requests to have the Government decision suspended were also submitted with the Bucharest Court of Appeals, which ruled in favor of the requests on December 6, 2010.

On the other hand, Defense Ministry Financial Department chief Mariana Lupu said Wednesday the court rulings suspending the Government decision on recalculating military staff pensions will apply only to those who challenged the decision.

The country’s new pension law recalculates pensions taking into account the paid pension contributions. Authorities said the new law eliminates special pension systems.