Former President Ilir Meta has reacted from prison after Prime Minister Edi Rama's announcement of an increase in pensions starting January 1, 2026.
In a post on social media, Meta describes this promise as incomplete and demands that the government first compensate pensioners for the lack of full indexation of pensions in relation to real inflation.
"The tunnels and corruption affairs that have erupted for a long time are forcing the Prime Minister to 'turn his eyes' away from pensioners. But, before promising pension increases, Edi Rama must return to pensioners what they rightfully deserve: every pensioner in the city 1164 euros per year and every pensioner in the countryside 482 euros per year."
Meta argues that these are funds that, according to him, have been withheld from pensioners every year due to the lack of full indexation of pensions and the lack of deserved growth in line with the country's economic development.
"Instead of going to those who have worked their whole lives and sacrificed so much to build the country, this money has been poured into 'geopolitical corruption', into projects and affairs that have nothing to do with the well-being of ordinary citizens, especially pensioners." - writes Meta.
According to government forecasts, by 2029 the average urban pension for those with full years of work will reach 40,000 lek (about 400 euros), up from 27,350 lek currently.
The partial urban pension will increase to 22,000 lek, the rural pension to 18,000 lek, the family pension from 11,400 to 18,000 lek, while the disability pension will go from 20,000 to 30,000 lek.
