Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku released a video today addressing the harsh realities faced by Albanian pensioners. She criticizes the government’s nominal pension increase of just 20 Albanian lek per day, labeling it a failed attempt to cover up the declining purchasing power and economic challenges of approximately 700,000 pensioners in Albania.

Why is this important: Tabaku’s video sheds light on the disparities between pensions in Albania and those in neighboring regions and the EU, where pensions are nearly double. She argues that the current pensions do not meet even the basic necessities of life, representing a significant injustice to a generation that has contributed greatly to the nation.

Context: Tabaku has been especially active on the issue of pension reform. Although quite isolated among her own party, she has insisted on formulating new policy ideas especially on economic and social issues. 

What she said: In the video Tabaku claims that the increase in wages and pensions should not merely serve as a government propaganda tool. She points out that current fiscal and economic policies primarily benefit a privileged minority, impoverishing the majority. She criticizes the 2014-2015 pension scheme as a failure, incapable of providing dignified income for the elderly. Furthermore, she links the failed pension scheme directly to the country’s economic downturn, suggesting that artificial wage increases and forced formalization policies have created an illusion of economic development. This approach has worsened conditions, increasing informal employment and leading to the closure of many small businesses, which in turn weakens the pension scheme’s contribution base.

What else:  Tabaku also called the minimum wage increase a propaganda tool used by the government to showcase economic improvement. However, she argues that it has not delivered real benefits to citizens. The enforced increase has only raised business expenses and forced many to cut jobs, thus increasing unemployment and economic insecurity. The video came in response to the government’s recent campaign to increase pensions, highlighting the broader economic issues faced by Albanian society.