On May 5, the Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled that Romania's government and Ministry of Finance must secure funds to pay outstanding salary rights owed to judges and other eligible professionals in 2026, after admitting a request from the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ). The decision counters budget reallocations made earlier this year, where RON 770 million (EUR 150 million) was diverted from the ICCJ's budget to finance social protection measures supported by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), directly affecting the court's ability to pay previously granted salary entitlements. Under the ruling, the government is obliged to allocate the necessary amounts in full, including via budget rectification if needed, with strict penalties: a 1% daily charge on delayed payments and an additional fine of 20% of the gross minimum wage per day. The contested funds are part of a RON 5 billion (EUR 1 billion) 2026 budget for ICCJ, a 50% increase from the prior year intended for retroactive salary claims, but political negotiations reshaped the allocation to secure PSD support. The non-final ruling may be appealed and reignites disputes over judicial budget autonomy and fiscal strains.