While protesters demand Edi Rama’s resignation, the government announces a 2.7% increase in pensions. For the average pension, the increase is about 300 lek per month…
Edi Rama has come under attack after the massive protests that have gripped the country. As citizens have been demanding his resignation for 26 days (today is the 27th protest), Rama has been moving to woo his voters.
At today’s government meeting, Rama has decided to lie to pensioners with pension increases, while citizens are protesting the corruption of this government, the destruction of the economy, and the enrichment of a clique of people.
The decision was made public by the Minister of Economy, Delina Ibrahimaj, who said that the indexation will be applied to old-age pensions and special pensions. According to her, there will be an indexation of pensions by 2.7%, a measure that will enter into force on July 1 and will affect about 900 thousand beneficiaries.
“We will index pensions by 2.7 percent. There are 900 thousand beneficiaries in total who, as of July 1, will have the opportunity to receive this increase,” Ibrahimaj declared.
Although the government presents the measure as a mechanism to preserve the purchasing power of pensioners, the increase translates into a relatively small amount for a good portion of beneficiaries. For an average pension, the increase could be around 300 lek per month, or around 3 thousand old lek. So, Rama wants to cheat pensioners out of 3 thousand old lek.
In addition to indexing pensions, the government also approved 300 soft loan quotas with zero interest for public administration employees, including employees of the State Police, Prison Police, teachers, doctors and military. This is another move to keep the administration behind it during this stormy time for the government.
So, it seems that the state machinery has been set in motion. While Rama and the ministers, along with the MPs, have begun to attack the protesters, it seems that other maneuvers are being made behind the scenes to quell the civic revolt. /Pamphlet