Albanian Democrats propose 32 amendments to 2025 budget mere days before vote

In a sure sign that the electoral campaign has already started, just two days before the December 3 parliamentary session, when the 2025 state budget is expected to be approved article by article, the Democratic Party (DP) has submitted 32 amendments it claims will ensure citizens’ minimum welfare. Among these, two amendments were submitted under the name of DP leader Sali Berisha, calling for the suspension of luxury public investments and operational expenses until essential measures like pension increases and a legally defined minimum living standard are implemented.

Why is this important: The proposals highlight a wide range of priorities, including pension increases, healthcare funding, and education investments. However, a significant criticism is that the DP has not presented a financial framework or detailed costs for these amendments, leaving questions about their feasibility and the motivation behind the sudden avalanche of proposals. While some proposals reflect longstanding party positions, others appear to have been introduced with little prior discussion.

Context: The amendments include a fivefold increase in pension funds, tripling allocations for former political prisoners, and suspending payments for controversial public-private partnerships (PPP) in healthcare. Other proposals target raising the budget for education and health by 1% of GDP annually, doubling the childbirth bonus fund, and providing specific financial support for students and teachers in remote areas.

Critics argue that while many of these proposals may resonate with public concerns, the lack of a clear financial roadmap undermines their credibility. The absence of a cost assessment raises doubts about whether these measures can be implemented without significantly disrupting existing fiscal plans and about the true motivations behind the exercise.

What’s next: As the 2025 budget debate unfolds, the government is likely to challenge the DP to provide specifics on how it intends to finance these ambitious proposals. It is however, not expected to take them into account and reflect them in the budget. Meanwhile, the amendments are expected to spark intense discussions in parliament over fiscal responsibility and prioritization of public funds.