Constitutional Tribunal could force state to pay pensioners over zl. 14 bln

Over 7 million pensioners could be owed some zl. 14 billion in compensation by the state, claims Zycie daily. The matter dates back to 1993 when the government lowered the base upon which pensions are calculated from 100% to 91% of the average salary. Whenever pensions were being revalued, the operation was also based on the new percentage. As a result, two people who retired in a space of a few months, could be receiving pensions differing by several hundred zloty. The People's Rights Ombudsman appealed this solution with the Constitutional Tribunal, which agreed that pensioners cannot be burdened with the effects of the poor economic situation. The Sejm rejected the Tribunal's decision, claiming there is simply no money in the budget. However, since last October, the Constitutional Tribunal's rulings are final and cannot be rejected by the Sejm. Therefore, if the regulations were appealed once again and the Tribunal made the same ruling, the government may be forced to pay up. (Zycie, page 1) T.J.