Serbian pensioners protest against pension cut

More than a thousand pensioners rallied here on Wednesday to protest against a 10-percent decrease in pensions that was adopted by the Serbian government last October.

The protest at the Nikola Pasic Square was organized by the Association of Pensioners' Trade Unions of Serbia (PAPTUS) on the grounds that the decision to cut all pensions higher than 25,000 dinars (about 222 US dollars) by 10 percent was unconstitutional and against the law.

Dissatisfied citizens came from across Serbia to call on the government to cancel the decision and return the pensions to the previous amount. Milorad Vujasinovic, president of PAPTUS, reminded those gathered that the association had asked the constitutional court to rule on this decision back in November, adding he hoped the court would be on the pensioners' side.

"We don't want an increase, but only to return what has been taken from us," Vujasinovic said, and warned that in case their demands were not met, they would file a complaint with the European court of justice in Strasbourg.

He announced that pensioners would organize another joint protest here together with other unsatisfied citizens on May 1.

Official data shows there are around 1.7 million people receiving pensions in Serbia. The decrease of their pensions was adopted as a part of fiscal consolidation measures. Endit