Prishtina, 22 May 2026
Dear Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Dear Government Cabinet staff and members of the media,
Dear citizens,
Our government, from the very first days after the December elections, has been clear and determined in its priorities. One of the first five decisions of the new Government was the approval of the Inflation Response Package 2.0, worth €200 million, aimed at supporting families in coping more easily with the burden of high prices resulting from global crises and shocks.
The Inflation Response Package 2.0 provided support for pensioners, children, students, and workers in the private sector. This was a clear promise made to citizens and a commitment we have taken with full responsibility.
Therefore, in order to implement this commitment, last month we submitted to the Assembly of the Republic for approval the budget revision that would secure the funds enabling the implementation of the Inflation Response Package 2.0.
When the budget revision was put to a vote in the Assembly under an expedited procedure, requiring a two-thirds majority of present deputies, the opposition bloc did the only thing it has been consistently doing for some time — it blocked it. Even though in a parliamentary debate a few days earlier the opposition had demanded that the Government support citizens, when the moment came to vote, they chose to block the package that would have supported every family. While the cost of living continues to rise due to global crises, the opposition bloc is now even taking pride in preventing the Government from adopting a support package, showing no regard for the daily difficulties faced by citizens.
However, faced with this situation, our government cannot remain idle. I have requested the Minister of Finance to utilize every budgetary possibility to design an Inflation Response Package, as we have committed.
Citizens of the Republic should know and always expect that our government and theirs will never leave them alone, regardless of the obstacles or blockades that others may place on our shared path.
Therefore, today I am pleased to announce the Inflation Response Package 2.0, which we have designed and will approve today, with the following measures:
• A one-time payment of €100 for pensioners,
• A one-time payment of €100 for children,
• A one-time payment of €100 for non-public sector employees,
• A one-time payment of €100 for active students.
Since pensioners and children will not need to apply, as we already have the beneficiary lists, we aim to make these one-time payments at the beginning of next week, before the Eid holiday, so that every family feels equally supported on that festive day, knowing that the caring hand of the state takes care of them. Whereas for employees in the non-public sector and students, the Minister of Finance has informed me that an application procedure is required, which will open next week, and further details will be provided by the minister.
We are aware that, in the absence of the revised budget blocked by the opposition bloc, this package does not address all problems and needs. However, it does ease the burden for every family in our country. Because, unlike the opposition bloc, our government is one that ensures the caring hand of the state reaches everyone. We are the only Government that has shown it cares about the challenges of every family in the Republic of Kosovo.
Today, I also have the pleasure of sharing very good news for all postpartum women.
In previous governments, nothing was done for women. For 20 years of governance by other parties, not a single measure was taken to support women.
In contrast, in just one mandate, we have:
- subsidized women’s employment,
- supported women entrepreneurs with grants and subsidies,
- launched the “Government for Families” measure, where most beneficiaries are women,
- provided scholarships to all girls and women studying STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics),
- initiated or built 74 new kindergartens to reduce childcare burdens, a burden which falls disproportionately on women.
- expanded home visitation programs for pregnant women,
- introduced and increased child and maternity allowances, transferred directly to mothers’ bank accounts,
- and many other measures supporting women.
And the major announcement I would like to share today is that from this month we will increase maternity allowances.
Whereas in previous governments maternity benefits were 0 euros, as if the country had no postpartum mothers, for the first time under our government we introduced them, paying €170 per month for 6 months for unemployed mothers, and 3 months for employed mothers, in addition to wage payments under the Labour Law.
We said that maternity allowances would match the minimum wage.
We initially set them at €170 per month, that is, at the level at which we found the minimum wage, then last May, we increased the allowances to €325.9 per month, equal to the net minimum wage at the time.
This year we again increased the minimum wage — from 1 January it is €425 per month, and from 1 July it will be €500 per month.
Similarly, just like last year, this May we are increasing maternity allowances from €325.9 to €500 per month as we have promised, equal to the minimum wage. In other words, we are not waiting until July — the increase takes effect now.
From this month onward, every postpartum mother will receive €500 per month.
For unemployed mothers, this means €3,000 in support over six months, not including child benefits.
For employed mothers, this means €1,500 in support, in addition to payments under labour law: 70% of salary from the employer for the first 6 months and 50% of the average salary from the state for the following 3 months.
And to demonstrate that we do not stop when it comes to supporting women, very soon we will launch the “Super Work for Women” programme, through which we will support all women by covering the minimum wage for six months if they return to the labour market.
Thank you!