Pensioners march through Madrid demanding CPI-linked raises and parity with minimum wage

Around midday, tens of thousands of pensioners converged on Madrid’s centre in a march organized by the Coordinadora Estatal en Defensa de las Pensiones Públicas. The rally demanded that pension payments be revalued according to the consumer price index and that the minimum pension be raised to the level of the minimum wage. Organizers also called for ending penalties on retirees with more than 40 years of contributions and for a transparent audit of pension fund allocations.

Speakers, including Encarna González, a 75-year-old former municipal employee, warned against privatization and urged solidarity with younger generations. The protest featured participation from Ada Colau, Pablo Bustinduy and Emilio Delgado, and slogans criticized the PP and Vox parties. Demonstrators also linked pension issues to broader demands for decent wages, affordable housing and equitable wealth distribution.