Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, has stated that the draft budget for 2026 reflects the government's commitment to social welfare, fiscal improvement and European integration, describing it as a "contract with citizens".
In his speech before the Conference of Mayors, Malaj emphasized that unemployment has fallen by over 3% this year and that employment has increased significantly.
"This draft budget reflects the government's priorities for 2026, the achievements, the increase in the well-being of our citizens. This draft budget is not just a financial document. It is the government's contract with the citizens, through which public finances are kept under control and the standard of living of Albanian citizens is further increased."
He announced that from January 2026 there will be a monthly increase in urban and rural pensions, as well as a progressive increase in salaries, starting from 50 thousand lek at the beginning of the year and up to 70 thousand lek at the end of the mandate.
"The focus will be on social welfare, infrastructure, digitalization, human capital, economic growth, fiscal improvement and EU integration. But also pension reform. Indexation of salaries once every two years for many categories. Let's maintain financial stability."
According to Malaj, economic growth for the current year has been 3.9%, the deficit has decreased and revenues are expected to reach 826 billion lek.
He assessed that the Albanian economy is becoming increasingly attractive in relation to external factors.
