President of the CSM: No The President of the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM), Liviu Gheorghe Odagiu, stated on Thursday in Alba Iulia that he had no comment on the decision of the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) regarding the reform of magistrates' pensions, emphasizing that he was waiting to see the reasoning behind the decision. Nothing to comment on the CCR's decision, we are waiting for the reasoning
Liviu Gheorghe Odagiu expressed his "regret" that the CCR did not agree to refer the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
"We have a decision from the Constitutional Court. It is a decision of the Constitutional Court, adopted by 6 votes to 3. There is nothing to comment on. Whether we like it or not, it is a decision of the Constitutional Court. First of all, it should be noted that we are awaiting the reasoning, especially with regard to some of the criticisms of unconstitutionality raised in the report of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, which, let us not forget for a moment, unanimously decided to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court. And it is no small thing for 100 judges of the High Court, or approximately 100, to make such a decision. We are awaiting the reasoning. That is a fact. I, at least, have nothing to comment on regarding the CCR's decision," said the president of the CSM in a press conference.
Odagiu added that he "regrets" that the CCR did not agree to refer the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union. "I also believe that such a referral was justified. But, without a doubt, it was the CCR's decision, which I cannot comment on," he said.
The president of the CSM pointed out that one thing is certain, namely that a workload four times higher than the European average cannot be managed year after year by the same human resources.
"Something has to happen. We have also begun serious discussions about standardizing court proceedings. (...). In my candidacy for the presidency, one of the goals I have set for myself is to standardize court proceedings. (...). We are not discussing whether we will regulate, but rather: we will regulate court activity," Odagiu added.
He believes that, in addition to standardization, the time has come to have a "serious" discussion about how much longer it is justified to maintain all the prohibitions and incompatibilities. Odagiu said that, at present, "Romanian magistrates have one of the most drastic systems of incompatibilities and prohibitions in the European Union."
On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court rejected the High Court of Cassation and Justice's referral regarding the Bolojan government's new draft law on reforming magistrates' pensions and ruled that the legislation is constitutional.
The new draft amendment to magistrates' pensions adopted by the Government provides for a phased increase in the retirement age to 65, and the amount of the pension cannot exceed 70% of the net allowance received in the last month of activity.
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