Albania presents 2027 draft budget with pension and social increases

Finance Minister Petrit Malaj has presented the 2027 draft budget for Albania, which is estimated at approximately 10 billion euros. A central pillar of the proposal is increased support for the elderly and vulnerable populations.

The budget includes a planned pension indexation in April 2027 and a monthly bonus for pensioners starting January 1, 2027, provided they fall below specific income ceilings. Additionally, the government plans to double payments for children with disabilities and provide monthly support for infants up to age five.

Social protection is set to receive roughly 279.7 billion lek, accounting for about 30 percent of total expenditures. Other major allocations include 89.3 billion lek for health and 76.5 billion lek for defense. The opposition has criticized the budget presentation, alleging procedural violations regarding the timing of the meeting and a lack of transparency.