Androulakis: 17 measures for pensioners, criticizes ND for breaking law promise

Nikos Androulakis, leader of PASOK-KINAL, launched a sharp attack on the New Democracy government, accusing it of failing to fulfill its promise to abolish the "Katrougalos law" concerning pensions. Speaking at a PASOK event for pensioners, Androulakis stated that the government had instead applied the law more stringently than its creators, increasing the retirement age for reduced public sector pensions by up to seven years without any obligation.

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As a government, it ended up applying it more harshly than even its creators. They increased, without any memorandum obligation, the age limits for reduced public sector pensions by up to seven years.

He highlighted that while pensions nominally increased by 16.4% over seven years, inflation rose by 19.8%, and food inflation surged by 39%, leading to a significant decrease in pensioners' real income. Androulakis reminded attendees that PASOK-KINAL had repeatedly proposed amendments to reinstate the EKAS allowance, halt the increase in retirement ages, and classify health personnel as engaged in arduous and unhealthy professions. These proposals were all rejected by the government.

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Pensions increased nominally by 16.4% during the seven-year period, while inflation increased by 19.8%, and food inflation soared by 39%.

The only concession, he noted, was the inclusion of nursing staff in arduous professions after significant pressure and repeated refusals. The Minister of Labor also accepted PASOK's proposal to permanently abolish deductions from survivor pensions. Androulakis emphasized his party's commitment to substantive changes that genuinely improve the lives of all Greek citizens.

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The only thing it was forced to do, after very great pressure, after denying us 24 times, was to include nursing staff in arduous and unhealthy professions.

PASOK presented a 17-point plan for a fairer, more functional, and rewarding insurance system. Key proposals include restoring the 13th pension in two phases, reintroducing EKAS for low-pensioners with a monthly amount between 50 and 180 euros, and freezing retirement age increases until 2035. The plan also addresses injustices in disability pensions, counts disability pensioners' work time for calculating their pension, and ensures no insurance day is lost. It aims to increase replacement rates for 40 years of insurance and gradually reduce the solidarity contribution for pensioners.

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We are capable of achieving whatever we set our minds to when we Argentines fight together and stand united.