SDSM: Mickoski misled pensioners — linear increases harmed all retirees
The party says abandoning the linear system and restoring the previous alignment formula cost 347,296 pensioners larger payouts in 2025–2026.
The Social Democratic Union (SDSM) accused Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on Tuesday of misleading pensioners, saying the government’s decision to abandon a linear increase deprived retirees of larger payments they would have received under the previous adjustment methodology.
SDSM said that by switching away from the linear model and announcing a return to the earlier methodology, it became clear that the linear increases had in fact harmed pensioners. "Is there anyone Mickoski didn't lie to? The government's linear model harmed all pensioners," the party said in a statement.
How SDSM calculates the shortfall
According to SDSM, the two fixed increases of 1 000 denars applied in September 2025 and March 2026 left all 347,296 pensioners with smaller payments than they would have received under the previous methodology.
SDSM's assessment says that under its methodology, the September 2025 adjustment would have given pensioners with the lowest pensions 1,280 denars, while higher categories would have received between 1,550 and 3,100 denars, averaging about 2,000 denars. For the March 2026 adjustment, SDSM argues, pensioners in all categories would have received increases between 1,500 and 1,800 denars instead of the flat 1,000 denars.
When asked by reporters whether pensions will rise in September, Mickoski responded that future increases will follow the law’s formula for regular adjustments. "You know there were initiatives by individuals, encouraged in the background by political parties, to bring the issue of the linear increase in pensions before the Constitutional Court. To protect pensioners and pensions, further increases will be in accordance with the adjustments provided by law," Mickoski said.
The Constitutional Court decided at a session held on March 4, 2026 that the linear increase remains in force. "Doubts about the unconstitutionality of the challenged law have been removed and the Court today halted the procedure," the Court said at the time. The Court concluded that the linear increase of pensions is not unconstitutional.
Photo: press material from the event
