When Kurt once called salary increases in election times “willing to power”

Albin Kurti in his bid to retain power, 2025 has led him as prime minister in office, without legitimacy and with successive populist decisions.

Far beyond four years ago, there was Kurt himself who had criticised the former rulers for their decisions of salary raises in election times. He said it was just an attempt to retain power. This year, Kurt himself has made the same decisions in an effort to retain power.

Just before the February 9th parliamentary elections, Albin Kurti had decided that public sector salaries would freeze for 55 euros, starting in January 2025.

It was reasoned that it is doing so to support those with lower wages and to narrow the gap between lower and higher wages.

The incumbent Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has promised increased basic pensions for pensioners and increased additions for children in the 2026 Budget Bill vote.

At today's cabinet meeting in office, Kurti has declared that basic pension for pensioners will increase from 120 euros to 150.

He has announced that increased pensions will be executed as of tomorrow (November 1st). The minimum option of 120 euros will become 150 euros starting tomorrow in November. This increase affects about 200 thousand pensioners in basic pension categories, those for disabled persons, family pension and disability labour pension”, Kurti has declared.

He has added that in next year's budget bill, growth for 50% of additions for children from 0 to 16 years is envisioned.

“From November, additions for all children from 0 to 16 will grow for 50%, that is, a mother who received 40 euros from next month will receive 60 euros”, Kurti said at the Government meeting.

But in 2021 at a news conference by the government's object, Kurt had made critical statements about such actions in time of campaigns.

The previous <x0) governments have increased wages with electoral promises, which they have then fulfilled in part or not. But the economy does not function that way, the desire for power can work, but the economy does not function with electoral campaigns, as has been done in the past. The increase in wages will follow productivity growth within economic growth”, Kurti had declared.

Meanwhile, according to economic issues connoisseurs, the government's decision in office for the new budget will have numerous consequences in Kosovo's financial stability.

The Kosovo government's decision in office for the new budget and the increase in the minimum pension wage and benefits will have numerous implications for Kosovo's financial stability, says Majidi Bektash, professor of economy at Pristina University.

The incumbent government, led by Albin Kurti, on Friday approved the budget for 2026, which amounts to about 4 billion euros.

It raised the minimum wage from 350 to 500 euros, expected to go into effect next year, as well as increased the minimum pension and additions for children since next month.

In an interview for Radio Free Europe, Bektas also said that this budget is not that large, and questioned the legality of decisions taken by a incumbent government.

He estimates that decisions for the growth of the minimum wage, basic pension and additions of children are “ (socies”).