Romanian judges threaten to block trials and the presidential elections. Elsewhere in the news, the Romanian Ministry of Transport lost 35 million dollars worth of loan because the Government forgot about the money. Last but not least, Romania's president Traian Basescu is supposed to have restrained his brother’s investigation on the arm trade.
Romanian judges threaten to block trials and the presidential elections, Cotidianul reads. The Romanian National Union of Judges (UNJR) went out to protest on Tuesday, at a national level, inviting all judges' general assemblies to cease their activity starting September 1st. A change in the unique payment scheme attracted their discontent: the magistrates are likely to lose 50% of their benefits and are likely to see their incomes drop 23% and the specialty auxiliary staff would lose 10%.
On the other hand, the probation staff would see their income going 5% up, and the affiliated staff - up 23%. The magistrates and union members failed to convince the Government to change their mind during this week’s discussions. Magistrates say the Government lacks transparency and has contempt for the judicial system.
President of the Romanian Magistrates Association Mona Pivniceru said the magistrates are likely to join UNJR in their protests. They will make their position public by the end of this week. Pivniceru defined the current unique income scheme as "unacceptable" for the judges, because it gives a magistrate the same income as a ministry auxiliary staff. The Magistrates Superior Council reps claimed that the Government are after the magistrates losing their independence and being discredited.
Romanian Ministry of Transport lost 35 million dollars worth of loan because the Government forgot about the money, Gandul informs. Romania contracted a 180 million dollars loan for infrastruct
