“For Georgia” MP Giorgi Sharashidze questioned whether it is fair for a pensioner under 70 to receive GEL 350 while the salary of a top political official reaches GEL 17,350 under the 2027 budget draft. He noted that the Parliament speaker’s salary would be 44 times higher than the pension.
Sharashidze asked Deputy Finance Minister Giorgi Kakauridze whether such a gap was justified amid rising prices and inflation that is nearly twice the National Bank’s target. “Is it fair for a pensioner’s pension to be GEL 350 while the salary of the highest political official is GEL 17,350?” he asked.
Kakauridze invited the MP to propose where budget spending could be adjusted. He said a 2021 law established pension indexation at a level no lower than inflation and remains in force. “If we want to develop a policy together that is financially feasible and sustainable, you have access to the budget. Before the second submission, tell me where you think we should reduce spending and where we should add it,” Kakauridze said.
According to the Finance Ministry’s initial 2027 budget draft, pension spending will increase by GEL 555 million. Pensions for people aged 70 and over will rise by GEL 60 to GEL 555, while pensions for those under 70 will increase by GEL 20 to GEL 390. In highland settlements, the amounts will exceed GEL 665 and GEL 468, respectively.
