Stories from Bucharest · Romania

A legislative project intended to establish new rules for public employees who are also pensioners has failed to receive approval from the legislative council. A new Romanian legislative project aims to prevent individuals from simultaneously receiving full public sector salaries and full pensions. Under the proposal, those choosing to continue working in the public sector would be required to renounce 85% of their pension to retain their salary. Employer associations have contested the project, calling the 85% pension reduction excessive. Driving is prohibited today and tomorrow for vehicles with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 7.5 tons, excluding those exclusively for passenger transport. This restriction applies to the A2 Bucharest-Constanța highway.

A proposed legislative project in Romania requires state employees to choose between maintaining their current jobs or retaining a larger portion of their pensions. Employer groups are contesting the project, claiming an excessive 85% reduction and potential discrimination between different categories of pensioners. The measure affects pensions and salaries, though exceptions exist for certain officials and those in military or judicial training. A new Romanian law project aims to regulate pensions for public employees, specifically targeting non-contributory and special pensions. Under the proposal, state employees who continue working will lose approximately 85 percent of their pension. Those wishing to keep their full pension must leave state service. The measure excludes employees in the education and healthcare sectors.

The Bucharest Traffic Police announced that vehicle traffic will be closed on Paleologul and Vasile Lascar streets starting Monday, May 4, at 10:00 AM. The closures are due to tram line modernization works. Interventions are also expected to begin on Arman-Călinescu street.

Romania's interim transport minister ordered a control body to investigate the Metro-Rex board of directors to quantify a specific penalty value. The investigation follows a nine-month delay regarding a single contract. The source stated the penalty amount is five times greater than what would have been obtained from a ticket price increase. No further steps have been taken since the invoice was issued. The Bucharest Court of Appeal has overturned a previous decision regarding Nicu Sordan's presidential campaign expenses from last year. The court ruled that the permanent electoral authority must fully reimburse Sordan for over 930,000 lei in campaign expenditures.

Radu Miruți stated that 60 million euros in penalties resulting from a company contract delay remain uncollected. He is reportedly seeking alternatives to compensate for a 59 million lei budget increase for Metro Rex.

Freight transport vehicles are restricted on the A2 Bucharest-Constanta motorway between the Bucharest Ring Road intersection and the A4 intersection. The restriction applies to both directions of travel.

The Via Danubiana ecotourism route has been marked for travelers to explore via walking or cycling. The route is designed to protect sensitive bird and animal habitats along the Danube river.

The Romanian government approved a decision to reduce the number of hospital beds by 14,000 in a phased manner over the next three years. This follows previous reports regarding the reduction of 14,000 hospital beds in the country. Parliamentarians from a group coordinated by Ana Maria Gabrilă have signed a motion of no confidence. For the government to remain in office, 22 members from the PSD and AUR parties must not vote for the motion on May 5. Romanian hospitals currently have 112,000 beds, a number slated for reduction by 14,000 by 2028. This decision stems from a surplus of beds in some facilities relative to patient numbers. The current accounting system allocates funds based on the number of beds, leading to financial inefficiencies for underutilized facilities. Moldovan stated in a communiqué that the current system has encouraged artificial maintenance.

Approximately 300 education employees protested in front of the Ministry of Education yesterday. They also allege the circular regarding the 10% reduction was issued without prior consultation with social dialogue partners. Protesters are targeting proposed 10% budget cuts aimed at children's palaces, sports centers, and schools. The source noted that these institutions have operated for 150 years and provide free courses for developing children's skills. The cuts are described as a threat to existing positions and institutional functions. The demonstration highlighted concerns regarding the loss of staff status and positions. Participants stated that children in the Jiu Valley region will be marginalized due to the lack of educational alternatives.

Teachers protested in front of the Ministry of Education in Bucharest regarding salaries in the education system, workload increases, and a lack of dialogue with authorities. Unionists stated that the demands are old and not directly related to the current context.