Pensioners' protest in Tuzla: Pensions must rise

(Patria) - About fifty pensioners protested today in Tuzla, despite the cold weather. The protests of pensioners and dissatisfied citizens were organized by the New Pensioners' Party Tuzla.

Through gathering and a peaceful march, participants highlighted the difficult material situation of pensioners in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, as they state, is among the worst in Europe. The average pension in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina amounts to 680 KM, it was stated. Therefore, the New Pensioners' Party demands that average pensions be aligned with European parameters, meaning that the average pension should be 52 percent of the average salary in the FBiH.

"This means that the existing pension of 680 marks should be increased to 845.5, or by about 160 marks," they explain.

On this occasion, they point out the fact that in European countries, parliamentarians generally have incomes 20 to 70 times higher than the average salaries in their countries.

"This is one of the parameters showing that those in power have a unscrupulous attitude towards oppressed citizens. Those in power hide from citizens and pensioners that in Bosnia and Herzegovina, at least 14 percent of GDP is spent on public administration, while in EU countries – for the same purposes – five to seven percent of GDP is spent, or up to three times less," they conclude, and call on citizens to join them at the next protests, which they will organize again next month at the same location.