Romanian PM Says Judge Salaries Defy Common Sense

"In my opinion, the justice system now has, through the judges’ conduct of regulating matters in their best interests, salaries that have reached levels that I find completely outrageous and unjustified, beyond all limits of common sense. It is not possible for an activity branch in Romania, be it justice, to regulate matters in its best interests and to its benefit," Tariceanu said at the press conference held by justice minister Catalin Predoiu on the Ministry’s short term agenda and the evolutions in the first two months of mandate.

Tariceanu said salaries in justice cannot be seen as separate from the salary system in Romania and such high salaries, compared to other public sector wages, obtained through various procedures, is hardly acceptable in a country where judges are not above the law.

He asked Predoiu to publicly present the report he will compile on this issue and added he awaits propositions for a single and coherent salary policy in the justice system.

The Romanian High Council of the Magistrates said Tariceanu’s statements represent "statements capable of damaging the trust of the public in the act of justice," and induce “a deformed perception regarding the material situation of the magistrates."