Debate over the 2027 budget has sparked clashes. While Socialist MP Milva Ekonomi was speaking about the pension scheme and its projected increase from January 1, journalist Bledian Koka intervened, raising concern about the gap between citizens’ pensions and those received by MPs.
“Don’t confuse MPs’ pensions with citizens’ pensions, madam. Don’t confuse pensions of 1 million lekë with the maximum pensions of 200,000 old lekë for citizens”, Koka stated, challenging the Socialist MP’s explanations.
For her part, Ekonomi responded by clarifying that pensions in Albania are divided by category and that their value is not the same for all recipients. According to her, the full urban pension reaches 400,000 old lekë, while the partial urban pension is 220,000 lekë. She also mentioned the rural pension of 180,000 lekë and the one for families with individuals with disabilities, valued at 300,000 old lekë.
“The Social Insurance Institute does not tell you about such a low pension, because it differs for different pensions. Now you have a full urban pension of 400,000 lekë, a partial urban pension of 220,000 lekë, a rural pension of 180,000 lekë, and you have a pension for families that have individuals with disabilities, which is 300,000 old lekë”, Ekonomi said on ”A2cnn”. The MP insisted that the scheme is divided by category and that the amounts mentioned should be viewed in relation to the type of pension each citizen receives.