In meetings that seem to herald the start of the campaign for the 2027 local elections, Prime Minister Edi Rama held a meeting with pensioners in Tirana today. As the largest electoral category in the country after mass emigration, pensioners have returned to the political spotlight, where promises of pension increases remain a recurring refrain.
Despite the fact that pensions, even after the government's sudden increases, continue to remain insufficient to cope with the high cost of living and food prices, Prime Minister Rama reiterated the objective for the minimum pension to reach 200 euros by 2030.
"From January, you will receive higher pensions. Every January, the pension will increase. Next January it will be double, in January 2028 triple, in 2029 quadruple and in 2030 fivefold, to achieve the objectives we have announced with you," declared Rama.
However, the objective remains stretched for a long time and it remains to be seen whether it will be realized in practice. But even if a minimum pension of 200 euros is achieved, this amount is not enough to cover the costs of living today, let alone in 4 years when they may increase further. This means that this group is promised an increase for survival, not for dignity.
In this sense, "increasing" pensions remains a recurring political objective, which serves more as a long-term electoral promise than as an immediate solution to the real problems of this category.
However, Rama did not spare flattery towards pensioners, saying that the latter know politics better than 90% of MPs and therefore should vote overwhelmingly for the Socialist Party.
