Andrulakis: New Democracy Reneged on Promise to Repeal Katrovgalu Pension Law

In Greece, Nikos Andrulakis, leader of the center-left PASOK-Hareket for Değişim Party, criticized the ruling New Democracy (ND) party, accusing them of failing to keep their promise to repeal the Katrovgalu law while in opposition. Speaking at a pensioners' event, Andrulakis claimed that contrary to its promises, the government implemented this law even more harshly. He noted that without any external pressure or bailout program necessity, the government increased the early retirement age limit for civil servants by up to seven years. The PASOK leader emphasized that this situation has further aggravated the economic pressure on Greek pensioners. Andrulakis's statements have reignited political debates in the country over how fair the pension system and social security policies are.

Andrulakis reminded that over the past seven years, nominal pensions have been increased by 16.4%, but during the same period, general inflation reached 19.8%. He stated that food inflation surged to a shocking level of 39%, emphasizing that the real purchasing power of pensioners has dropped dramatically. Saying that these data refute the government's claims of economic improvement for pensioners, Andrulakis noted that the people are struggling to make ends meet. He stated that as PASOK, they have repeatedly submitted legislative proposals to reinstate the low pension support program called EKAS, suspend the increase in retirement age limits, and include healthcare personnel in the category of heavy and hazardous jobs. However, he added that the ruling party rejected all of these proposals, which deepened the grievances of the pensioners.

The PASOK leader reminded that the government was forced to include nursing personnel in the scope of heavy and hazardous professions only after intense pressure and following 24 rejected demands. Furthermore, he stated that the Minister of Labor accepted PASOK's proposal from the parliamentary rostrum to permanently abolish survivorship pension cuts, expressing his satisfaction with this step. Andrulakis emphasized that his party has a constructive approach aimed at implementing concrete changes that will genuinely improve the lives of the Greek people, rather than a destructive opposition. He also added that these accepted proposals demonstrate that the country tends to progress in social policies only through coercion.

At the center of his speech was a 17-point costed commitment plan aimed at making the pension system fairer, more functional, and genuinely mutual. The first commitment of the plan is the gradual reinstatement of the 13th pension (bonus) for all pensioners in two stages; to be implemented at a cost of 420 million in the first year and 840 million in the third year. The second commitment is the restart of the EKAS support program, making monthly payments of 50 to 180, covering 380,000 low-income pensioners who receive a pension of up to 550 per month or up to 800 for double-pensioner couples. The third and fourth commitments envisage not increasing the retirement age until 2035 and eliminating the injustices caused by the Katrovgalu law in disability pensions with an annual budget of 65 million, respectively. Andrulakis underscored that the costs of all these promises have been meticulously calculated and prepared with respect for the country's fiscal situation.

Other commitments include critical regulations such as the inclusion of the pre-retirement disability period in the old-age pension calculation (26 million annually), ensuring no insured days are wasted, and ending the 15-year freeze on supplementary pensions by increasing them by 2.4% in the first year (88 million annually). Additionally, structural reforms such as lowering the retirement age to 55 for parents with disabled children, restructuring debts owed to social security institutions in 120 installments with penalty reductions, and the modernization of occupational pension funds are part of the plan. Finally, Andrulakis stated that he would not make pre-election promises that exploit people's anxieties for political gain, nor would he make populist moves like other leaders. He promised that when PASOK comes to power, all accumulated and underpaid 'fast track' pensions will be urgently recalculated and paid to their rightful owners within the first six months.