25,000 March in Madrid as Pension Costs Hit Record

Approximately 25,000 people gathered in Madrid on Saturday to defend the state pension system. The protest occurred one month before the general election. Participants arrived from across the country to voice concerns about the future of their benefits.

The crowd marched from Atocha station to the Gran Via, the city's most busy street. Banners held by the demonstrators read "protect and guarantee our pensions." The group seeks to ensure that payments remain tied to inflation. They also want the gender pension gap eliminated.

Emilio Delgado, a deputy spokesperson for the left-wing party Mas Madrid, supported the rally on social media. He stated that "no pension should be below the minimum wage." Delgado added that a lifetime of work deserves a dignified retirement.

Spain's monthly pension bill reached a record high of nearly 14.5 billion euros this year. That amount equals $16.2 billion. The cost reflects an ageing population and a low birth rate. Wages have remained stagnant while the number of workers relative to pensioners has fallen.

The rising costs have made the system more dependent on state funding. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez accused the right-wing Popular Party of planning to weaken inflation-linked increases. Sanchez pledged to protect pensions if he remains in office. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the PP leader, responded on Monday that his party would continue to raise pensions in line with inflation if it wins the vote.