LDP sues Ministry of Education and Science over failure to adjust student meal for 2026

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has filed a lawsuit at the Administrative Court against the Ministry of Education and Science (MES), arguing that the ministry failed to adopt an administrative act to adjust the subsidised student meal for 2026.

Legal move after alleged inaction on inflation adjustment

According to LDP, despite a legal obligation to align the student meal with inflation, students continue to receive 140 denars per day. The party's calculations — which take into account inflation rates for 2023, 2024 and 2025 — show the meal for 2026 should be roughly 17 percent higher.

Monika Zajkova, LDP chair and a member of the Assembly, appeared at the Administrative Court to submit the suit and criticised institutions for failing to fulfil their legal duty toward students. She said the party will push the matter through the courts.

"Because you are not enforcing the law, we will pursue justice. We are starting with a lawsuit to the Administrative Court to initiate an administrative dispute for non-compliance with the law, after which there will be an initiative to assess the legality of the payment of the student meal. Students will receive what is due to them according to Article 2 of the law," Zajkova said.

Zajkova also criticised public spending priorities: "If there is money for Fetai and various nonsense, there will be money for students. The law must be implemented," she said, calling on the ministry to secure funds and issue the required administrative act.

The LDP's lawsuit asks the ministry to be ordered to adopt an administrative decision that will determine the legally adjusted amount of the subsidised student meal for 2026. The party warned it will not allow selective application of laws and said students should not suffer because institutions did not act.

Photo: Printskrin