Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku has reacted to the government’s decision to give pensioners a 5,000 lek bonus, describing the support as seasonal alms that, she says, fail to keep up with the continuing rise in the cost of living.
In a video shared on social media, Tabaku says pensioners in Albania receive the lowest pensions in the region, at a time when the prices they face every day are approaching European Union levels.
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“What value does a 5,000 lek bonus have when everything has become more expensive? Prices in Albania are at 90% of the European Union average, while wages are only 20% of the European average,” Tabaku declares.
She also stresses that dairy products, including cheese and milk, cost 36% more than the European Union average, while healthcare spending in Albania is only 2.9% of Gross Domestic Product.
According to Tabaku, these figures clearly show that the 5,000 lek bonus for around 777,000 pensioners remains merely temporary and insufficient aid.
She points out that this measure costs the state budget around 35 million euros, while, according to her, the Milot–Balldren road concession has risen to around 360 million euros, ten times more.
“With the stroke of a pen, the Milot–Balldren concession goes to 360 million euros, while only 35 million euros are given for 777,000 pensioners. This clearly shows how much pensioners matter to this government,” the DP lawmaker says.
Tabaku argues that seasonal bonuses cannot replace serious policies to increase pensions and guarantee a dignified life for the elderly.
“Pensioners do not need seasonal alms, but dignified pensions. Meanwhile, the state budget has become a shelter for tenders, concessions, tax waivers and abuses of public property, while pensioners are left with only a 5,000 lek bonus,” Tabaku concludes.
