Bulgarina Pensioners Protest outside Parliament

Pensioners’ organizations staged a protest on 2^nd of November demanding all state pensions to be increased by about 22%. They want the increase to be laid down in the state budget for 2018.

People from all over the country have gathered in front of the Parliament. They insist that pensions be recalculated each year based on the insurable earnings from the previous one, as well as to change the coefficient.

Some pensioners said that with the increase in pensions in July this year, they received between 6 and 7 BGN (appr. 3,5 Euro) additional, which is insulting and in no way helps them to have better standard of living. Others said they did not get any increase. They all united around the idea that there should be higher pensions and an average pension of BGN 250 (appr. 125 Euro) is extremely insufficient for a normal life. They insist on better healthcare as well as higher allowances.