Judges from the Romanian Constitutional Court (CCR) ruled out this morning (June 25) that several articles addressing austerity laws are unconstitutional. According to judicial sources quoted by Romanian news agency Agerpres, CCR ruled out that certain articled entailed in the Law addressing austerity measures for pensions were declared unconstitutional. The Government has taken responsibility for these laws in the Parliament.
According to Mediafax, which also quote judicial sources, CCR judges decided that the details regarding the pensions of the magistrates are unconstitutional, while in the case of other categories, the legal articles were open to interpretation but decided that their regulation by the Parliament was not necessary.
According to the Constitution, the articles declared unconstitutional need to be changed according to the Court's ruling within 45 days.
If the judges declare unconstitutional the laws for which the Government has taken responsibility in the Parliament, the cuts in salaries and pensions cannot be enforced. This might delay Romania's receiving of the fifth IMF instalment.
Opposition party PSD (social-democrats) contested the austerity laws at the Constitutional Court on June 16, immediately after the Executive took responsibility for the laws. CCR also received two notifications from the High Court of Justice addressing the laws breaching the Constitution.
CCR was also notified by opposition party PNL (liberals), which contested the laws, pointing out to the creation of necessary measures to restore a budget balance. Liberals claim that the articles 44, 47 and 53 from the Constitution were breached.
Today is the day when CCR is expected to rule the final verdict. Members of two unions are protesting in front of the Presidential Palace, asking the president to not enf
