Romanian Pension Crisis Deepens As Court Delays Reform

Romania is facing a mounting crisis over its pension system, with experts and government officials warning that the unresolved issue of special pensions—particularly those granted to magistrates—could push the country’s entire retirement framework to the brink of collapse. As the Constitutional Court delays a crucial decision on pension reform for the fourth time, the debate has exposed deep structural problems and ignited public frustration over perceived inequities in the system.

On January 18, 2026, Valeriu Stoica, former president of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and a former Minister of Justice, sounded the alarm on national television. According to Digi24, Stoica warned that “the Romanian pension system is at risk of collapse if the issue of special pensions is not resolved.” He emphasized that while the focus has been on magistrates’ pensions, this is just the tip of a much larger iceberg. “The problem of magistrates’ special pensions is only a small part of a much larger problem involving special pensions for all professional categories,” Stoica explained. “Magistrates' pensions represent only a few percent of the budgetary dimension of this issue.”

At the heart of the controversy are the so-called “special pensions” awarded to various professional groups, including judges, prosecutors, military personnel, and others covered by special laws. These pensions often far exceed the benefits received by ordinary retirees under the contributory system. For magistrates, the average special pension currently stands at 25,400 lei net per month, with only 7,500 lei stemming from actual contributions, according to figures reported by PSNews.ro. The government’s proposed reform would slash these pensions by 25%, bringing the average down to about 17,500 lei net.

This move, however, has proved contentious and difficult to implement. The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has postponed its decision on the matter four times, most recently setting a new hearing date for February 11, 2026. The latest delay was prompted by the need for further analysis of new documents, including an extrajudicial accounting expertise submitted by the High Court of Cassation and Justice (Înalta Curte de Casaţie şi Justiţie, ICCJ), which is challenging the constitutionality of the reform. According to a CCR statement, the postponement allows for “a better study of the issues in the case, as well as the documents submitted by the author of the referral on January 15, 2026.”

The stakes are high. The government’s proposed pension reform is not limited to magistrates; it is part of a broader effort to overhaul the entire special pensions system, which includes increasing the retirement age for military personnel and eliminating early retirements. The urgency is underscored by Romania’s commitments to the European Union regarding pension equity and the sustainability of public finances. As reported by PSNews.ro, “the reform is part of Romania's commitments regarding the fairness of the pension system and the sustainability of public finances, given that magistrates' service pensions are often much higher than the average in the contributory system.”

Yet, the path to reform is fraught with legal and political obstacles. The first version of the magistrates’ pension reform law was declared unconstitutional due to the lack of a consultative opinion from the Superior Council of Magistracy (Consiliul Superior al Magistraturii, CSM). A revised draft, adopted by the government through a parliamentary confidence vote, received a negative but consultative opinion from the CSM and now awaits the final word from the Constitutional Court.

Opposition from within the judiciary has been fierce. The ICCJ argues that the contested law “annuls the service pension,” claiming that, if enacted, the new provisions would result in benefits lower than what magistrates would receive under the contributory system. This, they say, amounts to confiscation rather than reform. The reform’s postponement has already blocked its scheduled implementation, which was supposed to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Beyond the legal wrangling, the issue has become a lightning rod for public anger. Many Romanians see the special pensions as emblematic of a system that privileges certain groups at the expense of the majority. Stoica, echoing this sentiment, told Digi24, “Magistrates do not understand that, if this issue—which is the most flagrant for public opinion—is not resolved, it is very difficult for the Government to begin solving the larger problem. If this part, which has the greatest impact on public opinion, is not resolved, it is impossible to move forward.”

The numbers are staggering. There are hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries of special pensions, and the budgetary impact is enormous. According to Stoica, “It could get to the point where the pension system cracks completely, because hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries of these service pensions mean a huge budgetary impact.” He added that if the most visible part of the problem is not fixed, “the overall pension system cannot be fixed.”

The consequences of inaction could be dire. Stoica warned that if special pensions are not cut and the entire pension system is not reformed, approximately 4.6 million pensioners in Romania could lose their pensions. “This issue has a major impact on Romania's budget and will cause serious complications in the near future,” he cautioned.

But the challenges do not end with pensions. Stoica highlighted additional structural problems plaguing Romania’s judiciary, including long trial durations and a growing sense of inequity within the judicial body itself. “Unfortunately, all these structural deficiencies generate two very damaging consequences: the long duration of trials, which rightly dissatisfies litigants, and the emergence of a sense of inequity within the judiciary,” he noted. While he acknowledged that the retirement age and service pensions are at the forefront of the debate, he insisted that without addressing other systemic issues, “there will be no real improvement in the judicial system.”

As the February 11 deadline approaches, the government finds itself at a crossroads. A negative ruling from the Constitutional Court could halt the reform process altogether, forcing officials to reconsider their approach and possibly triggering further political and social unrest. The outcome will not only shape the future of Romania’s pension system but also test the country’s ability to implement structural reforms in the face of entrenched interests and public skepticism.

Romania’s struggle to reform its special pensions system is more than a technical budgetary issue—it is a test of political will, legal ingenuity, and social solidarity. The coming weeks will reveal whether the country can find a path toward a fairer, more sustainable future for all its retirees, or whether the weight of unresolved problems will bring the system to a breaking point.