Both chambers of the Romanian Parliament, namely the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, adopted in a joint meeting on Monday, June 26, the draft bill abolishing the lawmakers' special pensions. The legislation passed with 382 votes to 3 and only three abstentions.

The bill, initiated by Social Democrat (PSD) MP Alfred Simonis, amends Law no. 96/2006 on the status of deputies and senators and abolishes their special pensions.

"Today, we started with the MPs' pensions. It's a fair thing. You can't ask that from other categories if you keep these privileges," prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said, quoted by Euronews Romania.

According to Euronews.ro, more than 800 former parliamentarians currently benefit from a special pension, and some of them receive over RON 10,000 per month.

In May last year, the Constitutional Court invalidated a draft law for the abrogation of the so-called "special pensions."

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

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