Minister of National Defense Radu Miruta said on Monday that the government will pledge responsibility for reducing the salary fund in public institutions by 10%.

Miruta told private broadcaster Antena 3 that by next Thursday, public institutions must submit plans on how they will cut their salary envelopes by 10%. The measure will be adopted during an extraordinary parliamentary session.

'Next week is the challenge - to pass these legislative amendments by the government pledging responsibility. Salary expenditure should be cut by 10%, without changing the basic salary. Some may adjust bonuses. It is up to each minister how they manage this. One solution could be to reduce management positions - instead of firing four employees and keeping five managerial staff, leave one managerial employee and reassign the others as ordinary staff,' Miruta explained.

He added that Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacsu of the Social Democratic Party took part in the government discussions.

'All the deputy prime ministers unanimously agreed with this calendar, which assumes that next week we will have the package passed for the Administration,' the minister mentioned.

He emphasized that public institution managers will have the option to reduce perks and bonuses or make layoffs.

'Salaries are not being cut. Each credit authorizing officer must reorganize their entity so that the salary envelope decreases by 10%, without dismissals. The plan is for the government to adopt the Administration package next Thursday, enabling the Finance Ministry to set budgetary limits for each ministry the following day. The national budget can only be drafted once these figures are clear,' Miruta noted.

The minister argued that the 2026 budget will shift the burden from taxpayers to the government.

'This is the last stage in which this government still has the chance to make good [on its reform intentions]. Public patience has been elastic, but explanations are no longer enough. Because in 2026 the state begins belt-tightening, we cannot design the budget until we pass the Administration package with the 10% salary cuts and adopt rules on the cumulation of pensions with salaries. You cannot collect both a pension and a salary from the state,' the Defense minister said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Irinela Visan; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)