Photo: wikipedia.org
Thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid on October 24 to defend Spain’s public pension system, El País reported.
The annual October march drew an estimated 50,000 participants, according to organizers, while the Spanish government put the turnout at around 25,000. Organizers said attendance had doubled this year as pensions became a major issue in the election campaign.
The pension system has moved to the center of political debate following controversial remarks by right-wing politicians.
Vox lawmaker José María Figaredo described the current system as a “zombie” and proposed a mixed model combining public pensions with private savings. Esther Muñoz of the People’s Party later warned that the system would “collapse” without decisive changes.
Leaders of both parties sought to soften the reaction, reaffirming their support for pensioners and adjustments to pension payments in line with economic conditions.
Ramón Franquesa, a spokesperson for the organization coordinating the march, warned that politicians were seeking to redirect workers’ contributions into private pension funds, potentially undermining the public system.
Speaking after the demonstration, Franquesa also criticized the influence of major banks on pension policy. He argued that the 2008 financial crisis had exposed the vulnerabilities of the private sector and urged voters to consider politicians’ positions on pensions when casting their ballots.
