The protest develops in a climate of political tensions over the financial sustainability of pension scheme and the rising cost of living.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has accused the right opposition of aiming to weaken pension growth in line with inflation.
An estimated 250,000 people took part in the march, moving from the Atocha railway station to the Gran Via, one of the capital’s main trade arteries.
The demonstrators carried texting banners like Mburn and guaranteed our pensions.
The debate has intensified following Es Munoz’s statements, deputy of the People’s Party ( PP, which early in the month warned that the current pension system could collapse and demand its change.
People’s Party leader Alberto Núnez Feijóo said his party will continue to raise pensions in line with inflation every year if it wins the November 29th elections and becomes prime minister.
Sanchez, on the other hand, accused him. The PP says it questions the pension index mechanism with inflation, which has been in force since 2022, after the party voted against the law that imposed it.
According to Spain’s Social Insurance Ministry data, some 6.8 million citizens benefit state pensions.
In September, the average monthly pension reached 176 euros.
Today’s protest shows that guaranteeing the income of pensioners and long-term financing of the system will remain important issues in the political debate before the elections.
Source Layer: RTKLive