Following the debate on the SC decision, the government assures that there will be no cuts to pensions retirement and is considering legislative solutions.
Despite the debate that has opened up around the recent Council of State decision, the Ministry of Labour is rushing to clarify the landscape on widowhood pensions, seeking to prevent the cultivation of anxiety among beneficiaries. The deputy minister Anna Efthymiou stressed that there is no question of cuts, while at the same time technical and legislative solutions are being examined to ensure their continuation without reductions, even in light of possible interpretations of the court ruling. The issue remains under discussion, as the full text of the CoE has not yet been provided to the ministry, but the government line appears clear in terms of protecting a particularly vulnerable social pillar.
The issue that arose with a decision of the Council of State regarding widow’s pensions was mentioned in a talking to the ERTnews show “Political Kitchen”, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security, Anna Efthymiou, clarifying that there is no possibility of cutting them.
It is clear that there will be no cut
“We want to reassure and assure all widow’s pension beneficiaries that there is no possibility of us making any cuts to widow’s pensions. This is clear,” Ms Efthymiou said initially.
She said the issue has arisen because of a decision of the CoE, which has not yet been served on the ministry and at present there is only a summary of the decision, which provides for the granting of only one national pension in cases of accumulation of pensions.
“There is a summary of the decision. It has not been served on us, we have not seen it. When it is served on us, we will be able to have a more informed opinion,”
“However, Ms Efthymiou said that “there is political will” and “if necessary, the government will legislate in the direction of not making any cuts in relation to this part that is affected by the decision of the Council of State.”
“In any case, as far as my own responsibilities and possibilities in my portfolio are concerned, widow’s pensions are a top priority. They concern a very, very large, sensitive part of our society. So a comprehensive solution is being considered in the direction of not cutting them. Clearly and obviously in the light of obviously respecting equality and equity,” he concluded.
