Mickoski rejects raising retirement age amid pension fund deficit concerns

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has assured citizens that the pension system remains stable and secure, stating there are currently no plans to increase the retirement age or reduce public holidays.

These assurances follow warnings from the Fiscal Council, which suggested that without immediate reforms, the deficit in the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund could reach 1.3 billion euros. Currently, over 40 percent of the Fund's expenditures are covered by the state budget. Mickoski argued that financial stability should be achieved by addressing the misuse of funds rather than cutting citizen rights, citing anomalies in social protection sectors where fictitious beneficiaries have been identified.

The Prime Minister also noted that while linear pension increases have placed additional pressure on the budget, they have contributed to reducing poverty levels. He emphasized that the government is considering all reform proposals but will make final decisions based on the country's economic needs and the necessity of addressing labor shortages.