In an account of the insurance pensions The known worker and head the ESPEC, Alexis Mitropoulos.
Narin the recent statements by the Governor of the Bank of Greece, John Stournara, and scenarios for administration «half» 13th pension, Mr. Mitropoulos, speaking in the main newscast of the STAR Central Greece struck the alarm of the danger for «tectonic changes» In the case of pensions, with the focus on the new increase in retirement age due to the acute demographic problem.
Mitropoulos for statements Stournara: «The toughest phrase of the last 10-15 years»
Mitropoulos did not hide his intense concern about the recent placement of the central banker regarding the adequacy of public insurance, describing it as a historically unprecedented assumption. As stated in features «What Mr. Stournaras said, I read, because I was also asked by foreign colleagues from European countries, because for us scientists is the toughest phrase said in the last 10-15 yearsHe said, I read, public pensions alone will not be enough in the future for decent living.
So you realize that this is where our viewers understand that it is a phrase that says that the height and content of public pensions will not give life to them, they will not give decent living. That's not good, Mrs. Tsatzali, being called by the central banker.».
Is there a new increase in pension age?
According to the worker, the climate that is forming, in combination with dramatic aging of the population, clearly points towards the legislativeisation of new, increased age limits for the next generations, with a horizon of 2029–2030, as the EPCA is threatened with new deficits.
«... today a graph in the daily Kathimerini repeats Mr. Stournara's statements and says EPKA returns to deficits in '29-'30. What's 2029-2030 for us? It's a landmark, change of long retirement age limits for you in new generations.
So it creates a situation, an atmosphere. We believe and we have also informed foreign institutes as a scientific association and I am the head of ESPEC that one of the first laws of the new government, whatever composition it has, wherever the elections take place, will be to legislate new increased retirement age limits. Why? Because according to international organizations our country is going through the demographic more intensively. We are one of the most ageing societies in Europe... The day before yesterday we removed the data and informed foreign institutes that 82%, 81.9% of Greek pensioners are over 65. This will go uphill.».
He added with emphasis «people cannot hear that in '27 and '30 and '33 and '36 we have an increase in age limits as the Tsipras government had passed by Katrugalu law. It doesn't mean that women should stay up to 67 and 70. For which pension and what salary to stay to workBut the five hundred, the seven hundred? In this sense he needs attention».
The role of the Occupational Funds and the «taxation» logic
Commenting on the pressure exerted on the so-called turn «second pillar» insurance (occupational fundsMr. Mitropoulos explained that this essentially means the full withdrawal of the state from the guarantee of this money, while accusing the government of dealing with the institution.
«It means, Mrs Tsatzali and dear viewers, that the state will not participate at all in contributions or pension support. Today, both old and new pensioners, the state participates in giving the national pension. Pension today for everyone breaks into two pieces. The state support that is national pension and the repayable pension that is the largest part and only steps on contributions. What does Mr. Stournaras say and today's reports that cultivate a climate of tectonic changes in pension?
But this phrase of Mr. Stournara specifically puzzled us scientists too. So why is he coming now and with this frugal, harsh phrase institutionally says that public pensions will not suffice for future pensioners? So what is the professional fund, what is the second pillar, dear Maria, Mrs. Tsatzali? It is that the state is not involved. Only workers pay contributions. They risk their contributions, they invest their contributions. There is no fund, they put their contributions and make distribution with some criteria that decide in their statutes with a loose supervision of the Bank of Greece. The central banker spoke at this conference».
Referring to the attitude of the insured persons, he stressed «For 25 years there has been the institution but the insured were cautious. In some high wages and contributions the funds were created professionally. But the government came and saw it as taxable matter. He didn't see it as an encouragement, Mrs. Tsatzali, to get a pension supplement. So he fell with a rational tax practice. He taxed them. I'm not saying he looted them. But those who contributed, and contributed many Mrs. Tsatzali, took nothing or overtaxed. So what does he say now? Because the state will now limit taxes on young pensioners and new pensions, people turn to the same insurance situations that will pay their own contributions, invest them, risk them and get a supplement in the end. This is the logic of the occupational fund».
13th pension, EAS and the «Hot potato» widow's pensions
Finally, Alexis Mitropoulos referred to the immediate government plans for ITH, the scenarios for the 13th pension, but also the extremely sensitive social issue of widows' pensions cuts.
«Το είπατε εσείς. Εγώ πιστεύω επειδή η δεξαμενή των συνταξιούχων είναι η μεγαλύτερη σε ψήφους και σε εκλογική επιρροή, 2,5 εκατομμύρια μαζί με τις οικογένειές τους… αντιλαμβάνεστε μιλάμε για απίθανα μεγάλη δεξαμενή. 13η σύνταξη. Ίσως τη σπάσει στη μέση όπως λέγανε κυβερνητικά φύλλα προχθές, αλλά έχουμε την κατάργηση της προσωπικής διαφοράς με νόμο ήδη ψηφισμένο. Άρα όλοι οι συνταξιούχοι θα πάρουν το 2,6% που ήδη έχει οριστεί για το 2027. Φαίνεται, κυρία Τσατζαλή, θα έχει περιορισμό και στην εισφορά αλληλεγγύης συνταξιούχων (ΕΑΣ) που ματώνουν μισό εκατομμύριο συνταξιούχοι και πληρώνουν αυτό το φόρο από το 2010 το έτος 2026».
Κλείνοντας, αναφέρθηκε στο μεγάλο «αγκάθι» των συντάξεων χηρείας. Όπως είπε, «βγήκε μία κακή απόφαση προχθές που λέει να κοπεί μία από τις εθνικές συντάξεις από τις συντάξεις χηρείας. Το επεδίωξε η κυβέρνηση, το ψήφισε η προηγούμενη κυβέρνηση Τσίπρα, αλλά δεν τόλμησε αυτή τη σκληρή ρύθμιση η κυβέρνηση Τσίπρα να την εφαρμόσει και τώρα η καυτή πατάτα είναι στα χέρια της σημερινής κυβέρνησης αν θα κόψει τις συντάξεις χηρείας, αν θα ζητήσει αναδρομικά πίσω, και είναι μία δύσκολη κατάσταση προς διαχείριση. Εδώ είμαστε».
