Non-contributory pensions, that is, those for widowhood, orphanhood or disability, will see their amount increased by 15% from next July until the end of the year, according to the agreement reached today between the EH Bildu parliamentary group and the Minister of Social Security, José Luis Escrivá. The increase, as explained by the abertzale formation, will be included in the new anti-crisis decree that the Government must approve in order to extend the measures planned to deal with the economic consequences derived from the war in Ukraine.

Although the Government only contemplates a new decree that lasts until the end of September, Escrivá has agreed with the Abertzale party to include this increase in its successive extensions until finally a revaluation of said pensions is contemplated according to the CPI in the General Budgets of the State that the Government takes for granted that it will approve for the year 2023.

In this way, the Minister of Social Security confirms the conviction of the Executive that its measures to deal with inflation exacerbated by the war in Ukraine will have to be extended over time, in any case beyond three months additions that are now contemplated.

In exchange for this commitment, the five deputies of EH Bildu have decided to abstain in the vote that gives the green light to the processing in Congress of the bill that will regulate public pension plans and funds.

The abertzale formation calculates that thanks to this pact, the lowest pensions will be increased by an amount of between 60 and 100 euros per month. EH Bildu already filed this lawsuit last April in an attempt to expand the Government’s measures to deal with the economic deterioration caused by the war. At that time it was not accepted but now the Executive, faced with the possibility that its extension decree does not achieve the approval of Congress, has chosen to assume it and thus ensure national support.

The decree of anti-crisis measures of the Government was validated in Congress by a very tight margin since the votes against PP, Vox and Ciudadanos were joined by those of ERC, JxCAT and CUP.

EH Bildu also assures that its agreement with the Government also includes the commitment that “not a single euro from Social Security” will be allocated to the future pension fund. In this way, he emphasizes, “the decapitalization of Social Security will be avoided and public pensions and their sustainability will be shielded.” The abertzales insist that in this way the attempt by the right-wing parties to use the law that will regulate public pension plans and funds to “introduce and extend private funds through benefits for those who can pay them” has been “disrupted”.

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