Judges Decry Pension Reforms as “Butchery” of Justice System
CSM Slams Prime Minister’s Proposals as Dictatorial and Destructive
A top judicial body is leveling fierce accusations against the government’s proposed pension reforms, branding them as an attack on the very foundation of justice.
Judicial Council Condemns Reforms
The Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) has sharply criticized Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan‘s recently announced changes to magistrates’ retirement pensions. Judge Claudiu Drăgușin, a CSM member, expressed outrage on social media, comparing the situation to a friend’s analogy: “what are the consequences when, under the pretext of saving a patient, a surgeon does not come into the operating room, but a butcher.”
CSM condemns proposed pension reforms for magistrates, calling them a “destruction of the justice system.” Judge Claudiu Drăgușin compares the move to a butcher entering an operating room. #JusticeReform #Romania
— World Today News (@WorldTodayNews) July 25, 2025
Drăgușin further stated that the destruction of any democracy begins with undermining the justice system, a sentiment echoed by historical precedent. He argues that the current measures represent the culmination of a campaign to demonize a system he asserts functions within normal parameters compared to other European nations.
“Stigmatization Campaign” Alleged
The CSM asserts that Bolojan‘s proposals are part of a broader “stigmatization campaign” targeting magistrates. The council condemned the government’s communication method, labeling it as characteristic of a dictatorship and a violation of democratic principles due to the lack of consultation with judicial authorities.
“The destruction of any democracy begins with the destruction of the system of justice. Any dictatorship begins with the destruction of the justice system. I do not say it, history says.”
—Claudiu Drăgușin, CSM Judge
These reforms, which include raising the retirement age to 65 and reducing pension amounts to 70% of the last net salary, are seen as particularly damaging given recent modifications to pension laws enacted in January 2024. The CSM highlights that such sudden changes undermine legal certainty and legitimate expectations.
The government’s plan aims to increase the age for retirement eligibility from the current 48 years (after 25 years of service) to 58 years, with a mandatory retirement age of 65. Bolojan claims these changes are necessary to address societal inequities, promising a debate and approval timeline by the week’s end.
This move comes as reports indicate a significant disparity between judicial salaries and pensions in Romania. For instance, in 2023, the average net pension for judges and prosecutors was approximately €5,000, far exceeding the average net salary in the country, according to data from the National House of Public Pensions.
Magistrates currently have the option to retire after 25 years of service, receiving a pension equivalent to 80% of their final gross income. The CSM argues that the new proposals will effectively “destroy the justice system.”
