Romania PM: Bills Slashing Public Spending Are Constitutional, Govt Awaits Court Ruling

"The Government has drafted constitutional bills. It expects the Constitutional Court ruling," said Boc.

The Constitutional Court debates Thursday on the notices of unconstitutionality sent by the Supreme Court judges and lawmakers regarding the Government's austerity measures which target, among others, to cut public sector salaries by 25%, public pensions by 15% and social welfare.

On June 15, Romania's Supreme Court sent the Constitutional Court two notices of unconstitutionality regarding the bill reducing public pensions and the bill reducing salaries with the aim of restoring budgetary balance.

The judges argued that the bill aiming to restore budgetary balance restricts a series of rights, such as the right to a wage, the right to unemployment, the right to a pension and the right to social assistance.

As for the bill reducing public pensions, the Supreme Court argued that articles 1, 3 and 12 eliminate the early retirement service pension for judges, in contradiction with article 124 section 3 of the Constitution, regarding the independence of judges. The early retirement service pension is granted to judges who retire before the legal retirement age. They must have at least 25 years of experience as a judge and receive the pension starting with the age of 60.

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