Opposition says pension rise not enough to cover increased bills

TIRANA, July 5 – The opposition Socialist Party has described the pension increase which government claims is the biggest in the past 10 years, a lie by Prime Minister Sali Berisha to camouflage the difficult economic situation of Albanian citizens.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, SP lawmaker and deputy chair of the parliamentary economy committee, Mimi Kodheli, said the pension increase was not enough to cover even the increased electricity and water prices.
“The increase by 400 to 600 lek a month (4 to 6 dollars) is not enough even for medicines or increased food prices,” said Kodheli.
“”Electricity has nominally increased by 13 percent while drinking water prices by 26 percent. Converted into the national currency lek only these two bills have increased by 3,000 lek a month (27 dollars),” said Kodheli, adding that the increase of 400 to 600 lek month does not even cover the rise the two bills.
“This charges pensioners with 2,400 lek of extra monthly expenses. This is the reality of the economic miracles of this government,” said the SP lawmakers, adding that pensioners will have to save on food and medicines in order to be able to pay bills.
Blaming government for rising cost of living, the biggest opposition party said the pension increase was the lowest made during the past ten years.