As the Albanian general elections draw near, Prime Minister Edi Rama has set out an ambitious social policy goal:

Raising the country’s minimum pension to €200 and the average pension to €400. Speaking at a gathering of retirees in Gjirokastër, Rama, who also leads the Socialist Party, framed the proposal as both bold and realistic—while criticizing his main opposition for what he called “dangerous empty promises.”

“We have set two clear targets,” Rama said in remarks broadcast by several Albanian media outlets. “A minimum pension of €200, regardless of whether you have worked or not, and an average pension for insured persons of €400. These are our objectives. Anyone telling you otherwise, there are only two reasons: we have examined this issue from every angle, consulted with the World Bank and independent international experts. What we propose is ambitious, it’s not easy, but we will do everything possible to achieve it. Anything else is a road to the abyss.” (OraNews, April 22, 2025)

Rama’s statement comes as Albania’s retirees remain among the most financially vulnerable groups in the country. According to data from the Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), the average monthly pension in Albania is currently under €270, while the minimum pension is even lower. Many pensioners struggle to cover basic living expenses, especially in rural regions like Gjirokastër.

The prime minister’s comments were also a direct rebuke to opposition leader Sali Berisha, whose campaign has included broader social spending promises. Rama dismissed Berisha’s proposals as “the road to ruin,” and argued that his government’s objectives are grounded in expert advice and fiscal reality. “We have consulted the World Bank and independent international experts. What we set as a target is ambitious, not easy, but we will do our utmost to achieve it,” Rama reiterated, as cited by BalkanWeb (April 22, 2025).

Political analysts say the pension pledge is a centerpiece of Rama’s campaign as the Socialist Party seeks a new mandate in the May 11 elections. “Raising pensions has broad appeal among the elderly, but there is always skepticism about whether such promises can actually be delivered given budget constraints,” said Edlira Gjoni, a Tirana-based economist, in an interview with Euronews Albania (April 2025).

As the campaign heats up, the debate over pension reform is likely to remain at the forefront, with both major parties attempting to win over Albania’s large—and growing—retiree population. Whether Rama’s ambitious targets can be met in practice will depend on the government’s ability to secure economic growth and manage public finances responsibly.

Sources:

• OraNews, “Rama meeting with pensioners in Gjirokastër: Minimum pension of 200 euros, average pension 400,” April 22, 2025
• BalkanWeb, “Rama: Our goal is a minimum pension of 200 euros and an average of 400 euros,” April 22, 2025
• Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), Pension Report 2024
• Euronews Albania, “Pension reform and election promises,” April 2025

Image:
© European Union, 2025, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons