One of the main priorities of the VMRO- DPMNE is the social care, building a state of equal opportunities and improving the standard of citizens. At these elections also VMRO – DPMNE came up with a program that includes specific projects with specific deadlines that meet the real needs of citizens, according to the VMRO – DPMNE.
Integral text of the press conference with Dime Spasov follows.
Our priority remains the care for the elderly.
In the next term, the government led by VMRO – DPMNE will increase pensions by 5 % annually, starting from June. The total increase of pensions for four years will be 21.5 %! The policy of the planned increase in pension is possible if a serious external crisis does not occur, which would negatively affect the economic and financial situation in the country.
VMRO – DPMNE has also increased pension earlier, for 62 % on average, in the period 2006 to 2014.
In order to ensure better quality of life, safety and welfare of the elderly, by 2015 we will start the implementation of the “free weekend travel for pensioners”. The free weekend will be used in resorts and hotel complexes that are found in the mountains and shorelines of lakes in Macedonia, such as in Ohrid, Dojran, Struga, Prespa, Berovo and Krusevo. This project shall include transportation, accommodation and 2 full boards. This service can be used by people – beneficiaries of old-age, disability and family pension and beneficiaries of pensions that use allowance for assistance and care by another person have a right of companion. Users of lower pension have priority. Each year 3,000 pensioners will be able to use the service in the spring and autumn, or 12,000 retirees for 4 years. Deadline: 2015 – 2018.
Also the government in cooperation with the City of Skopje has so far provided free transportation in urban public transport in Skopje on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. This project will provide free transport for pensioners on Sunday as well. This will create conditions for reducing the jam in public transport and improve the lives of senior citizens.
We will continue with the project “spa recreation of pension beneficiaries”. The spa recreation service can be used once in the period from late March to November for a period of 7 days and includes: 6 full boards (bed and three meals a day), spa therapy, a mandatory medical examination, and transportation costs in the amount of return bus fare from the place of residence of the pensioner to the spa institution.
The project will continue to be implemented in the next four years, and will cover 22,000 retirees.
Social rights
Increasing social assistance for a total of 21.5 %, or 5 % per year.
In the next term, government led by VMRO DPMNE would increase social welfare by 5 % per year. It represents an increase of the total social welfare for 21.5 %. The policy of the planned increase in social welfare is possible if a serious external crisis does not occur, which would negatively affect the economic and financial situation in the country.
Also VMRO – DPMNE continually takes care of raising the number of foster families caring for orphans, children without parental care, children with disabilities and children with educational and social problems. In this direction the compensation will be increased by 25 % in the next period.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is just a small part of the 2046 projects included in the new program. And certainly when you look at them and compare the offers of the other parties – there’s a difference definitely. The difference is in the projects, the honest approach, hard work, honesty and accountability.