Dragnea says no draft on pension system reform has been officially presented

The Chamber of Deputies' Speaker Liviu Dragnea, Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader, said on Wednesday that no draft on the pension system reform has been officially presented.

Asked how he comments on a series of skeptical statements by foreign investors that the reform of the pension system is allegedly done with a lack of transparency, Dragnea said he respects any investor in Romania but also respects "the people who speak the truth and who voice opinions on things having been carried out, not rumors."

"Otherwise, I conclude that it is a political action. It is very simple: when any private or public institution voices its opinion on something that does not exist, it is only part of a chorus of people who have the role to criticize. What reform of the pension system are we talking about when there hasn't been anything official, a clear discussion hasn't begun yet? What pension pillar II can we talk about, when no one has officially presented any draft?" Dragnea said at Parliament.

"I am tougher and Mrs. Prime Minister is more elegant. I am telling you: it is a stupidity and a lie, so as not to complicate the answer any further," added the PSD leader, asked if the Government intends to introduce a zero quota for contributions to the pension pillar II.

Liviu Dragnea and PM Viorica Dancila attended the launch of the 2018 edition of the State Aid Scheme, an event organized at the Palace of Parliament by the Ministry of Business Milieu, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

The Foreign Investors Council (FIC) on Thursday voiced concern about possible public policy measures on the pension savings scheme through the three pillars and the lack of transparency in which these are being analyzed and promoted, and considers the mandatory privately-managed pensions (Pillar II) are essential for today's employees to be able to maintain a satisfying living standard at the end of their active life.

The FIC opines that the reform of the Pension Pillar II cannot be justified by the trend in the public debt or the deficit.