The parliamentary Finance Committee has backed a proposal for a 2% rise in pensions in December regardless of the amount of GDP growth in the past year, which would come at the cost of EUR 94 million.
The government has not yet taken a position on the proposal, which is sponsored by the Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS), one of the junior coalition partners.
Amendments to the law governing pensions adjustments in 2020 and 2021 were tabled by the National Council, the upper chamber of parliament, which proposed for the planned rise in pensions in December to be set as a percentage rather than a lump sum for all pensioners.
Under the valid law, passed by parliament last year on the proposal of the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB), one of the parties of the previous government coalition, all pensions be raised by 6.5 euro in December if GDP increased by over 2.5% in 2019. The National Council proposes a 1% rise given such growth.
According to an estimate issued in February, Slovenia posted GDP growth of 2.4% in 2019.
DeSUS tabled an amendment to the National Council’s proposal to the effect that pensions be raised by 2% in December regardless of what the economic growth in 2019 was, which the committee backed by 14 votes in favour.
The only MP to opt against was Elena Zavadlav Ušaj of the senior coalition Democrats (SDS).
Jožef Horvat of the junior coalition New Slovenia (NSi) said the rise had been agreed by the coalition.