Thousands of people protest in Madrid in defense of pensions

Thousands of protesters took to the streets this Saturday (24), in the center of Madrid, to defend public pensions, one month before the legislative elections. The left accuses the right of wanting to pave the way for a partial privatization of the pension system.

The march covered around two kilometers, without incident, between Atocha station and Alcalá street. The route passed in front of the Prado Museum and Praça de Cibeles, according to an AFP journalist who followed the event.

“Guaranteed retirements” and “protecting retirements” were some of the phrases written on the banners raised by the protesters. According to an estimate by the Government Delegation in Madrid, sent to AFP, 25 thousand people participated in the protest.

Civil servant Juan Fernández, 38, said he lives in “uncertainty” regarding his own retirement. He stated that he is against a reform that paves the way for the privatization of the system, with the possibility of gains or losses.

“Public pensions are irremovable,” said Pilar, 64, who is close to retiring. She lamented that “the tendency is to privatize everything”.

Pilar also celebrated the mobilization around the housing issue, which, according to her, led especially younger people to defend public services, such as education and health.

On Monday, the leader of the right-wing opposition, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, stated that the Popular Party (PP) will readjust pensions in accordance with the law if it wins the early legislative elections, scheduled for November 29.

The statement was a response to criticism from the government of socialist Pedro Sánchez, who accuses the PP of wanting to reform the pension system and questioning the mechanism that determines the readjustment of pensions based on inflation. The rule has been in effect since January 1, 2022.

At the end of 2021, the PP voted against the bill that established this mechanism, considering that it would have an excessive cost for public accounts.

In Spain, the average value of pensions reached 1,576 euros per month in September, the equivalent of almost R$9,000. Around 6.8 million people receive the benefit, according to the Ministry of Social Security.