Nicușor Dan has summoned the leaders of PNL, PSD, USR and UDMR to Cotroceni over the Pay Act

President Nicușor Dan convened a meeting on Tuesday at Cotroceni Palace with the leaders of the main political parties to discuss the situation regarding the Pay Act. The discussions were attended by Ilie Bolojan (PNL), Sorin Grindeanu (PSD), Dominic Fritz (USR), and Kelemen Hunor (UDMR), alongside representatives of the parties involved in the working group on this issue.

The Presidential Administration confirmed the meeting through an official announcement, specifying the composition of the discussion group.

The Pay Act must be adopted by the end of August to prevent Romania from losing the associated PNRR funding, worth 770 million euros. President Nicușor Dan maintains that, despite the political tensions that emerged following the collapse of the Bolojan Government, there is a consensus among parties regarding major national projects and outstanding PNRR commitments. However, political leaders have so far been unable to reach an agreement, and the legislation has become a source of political conflict.

PSD has announced that it will not vote for the bill in the form proposed by the Ministry of Labour, arguing that it would in fact lead to cuts in the public sector. Sorin Grindeanu declared at the end of last month: "We will never vote for a pay act that brings austerity."

On the other hand, the interim Minister of Labour, Dragoș Pîslaru, has accused certain politicians of spreading misinformation, arguing that they are solely pursuing electoral gains. In a Facebook post on Monday, he wrote: "Adopting the bill would mean pay predictability, which would also take off the table the usual promises of pay rises in the 2028 electoral year — equivalent to a disaster for populist parties. Arbitrariness disappears, as does the scenario where if you support party x, then 'more is given'."

Adoption of the law in doubt

Although Romania has committed to the European Commission to adopt legislation correcting pay inequalities in the public sector, some voices within the former governing coalition believe that the chances of the bill being passed are increasingly slim, given the widespread discontent it has generated across the country.

In all likelihood, the PNRR deadline of the end of August will not be met. There are also politicians who consider it preferable to forfeit the approximately 770 million euros allocated under this chapter, rather than adopt a law that would place additional pressure on the state budget by granting extra funds intended to appease trade union grievances.