Romania: The High Court of Cassation and Justice is closely monitoring the debates regarding the draft amendment of the pension law.

21 August 2025 ICCJ

Press Release

The High Court of Cassation and Justice is following with maximum concern the debates regarding the project to amend the pension law, which signals a significant regression in the status of magistrates.Under the pretext of reform, the issue of the salary or pension regime of magistrates has been brought up and maintained in public debate recurrently, not only through legislative projects but also through conferences, press statements, and media appearances.

These actions by the executive power have aimed to present the status of magistrates as a “privilege,” a term often used in these debates when discussing their remuneration, whether related to salaries or pensions, fueling a polarizing trend in society.

To speak from the level of the executive power about cutting the so-called privileges means, in fact, to deliberately weaken the status of judges and magistrates. In reality, it is not about cutting a ‘benefit’, but about cutting into the independence of justice, into the balance of democracy.

The High Court firmly rejects such a distortion of reality, as it signifies not only a disregard for the constitutional status of the judge but also an impact on the independence of justice. The drastic reduction of statutory guarantees demotivates the generations of magistrates currently in service, makes the profession unattractive for those who might pursue it, and ultimately undermines the very foundation of the rule of law.

The supreme court fully supports the position expressed by the Superior Council of Magistracy and reaffirms its willingness to engage in dialogue with the other branches of government, emphasizing that the protection of judicial independence is not a privilege but a fundamental guarantee for every citizen and for the democratic functioning of the state.

The High Court of Cassation and Justice.