Bolojan Responds to Weber’s CCR Challenge of OUG Cuts

The first measure contested by Renate Weber at the CCR refers to the possibility that a civil servant can work at two town halls. “In many small towns, a civil servant does not have full-time work. Others find it difficult to find qualified people for certain positions. A town planner, for example, does not have full-time work in a small town hall. The proposed solution tries to reduce staff costs, without affecting the work of the town halls, and to allow the hiring of qualified staff in rural areas to provide better services to citizens. It is just one possibility that the town halls can use for to be more efficient and to fully capitalize on the training of civil servants”, explained Ilie Bolojan on Tuesday, March 10.

The second measure challenged at the CCR is the one that introduces the obligation that not only the seller, but also the buyer of an apartment or a car, must have the fiscal attestation certificate, which proves that he has no debts to the town hall. “Until now, only the seller had this obligation. It is common sense for a buyer who has money for major purchases to pay off their obligations to the community before making new investments,” Bolojan said.

The third measure contested by Renate Weber is the possibility for town halls to stop part of the social aid money before it reaches a person, if he has debts to the town hall or the state. “Is it right for a citizen to receive aid, but not contribute at all to the functioning and development of the community in which he lives? Is it okay to have only rights, without fulfilling the minimum obligations?” asked the prime minister.

The fourth provision challenged in the Constitutional Court provides for the suspension of the driver’s license if traffic fines are not paid. “In Romania, only 40% of traffic fines are collected. So 6 out of 10 fined people don’t pay. It’s not just about significant sums lost from the budget. It’s about the reduced effectiveness of some traffic disciplinary measures in the country with the highest number of road accidents with victims in the European Union. Those who always remain unpunished will feel free to break the law again”, argued the head of the Government.

“The People’s Advocate has the constitutional right to make such a notification, but it is the first time in the last three years that he exercises this prerogative”, concluded Bolojan.

We remind you that the Government led by Ilie Bolojan adopted on February 24 the bill for the reform of the public administration in order to further reduce state expenses. The document provides for a 10% cut in personnel expenses and a decrease in the number of positions in the local administration. Simply put, layoffs in town halls, prefectures and ministries.

The People’s Advocate, Renate Weber, sent a notification to the CCR on Friday, March 6, asking the Court to decide whether the Emergency Ordinance of the Bolojan Government is constitutional or not.

Very importantly, Renate Weber’s mandate ended already in the summer of 2024, i.e. for almost two years, but she is kept in the position of People’s Advocate with the support of the PSD, although the legal mandate of 5 years has expired.

The future People’s Advocate should be elected by the Parliament in the next period, but the social democrats led by Sorin Grindeanu opposed the version of Roxana Rizoiu, proposed by the USR, arguing that they will accept any person who does not receive a special pension.