Spain: in Madrid, 25,000 protesters defend pensions, one month before the legislative elections

Thousands of protesters marched in Madrid on October 24 to defend public pensions ahead of upcoming elections, amid accusations from the left against the right regarding potential privatization. The peaceful demonstration covered nearly two kilometers, with participants holding signs demanding guaranteed pensions. Concerns about future retirement security were voiced by attendees, including a public administration employee who opposed reforms that could lead to privatization. A retired woman emphasized the need to protect public services. The leader of the opposition, Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, promised to uphold pensions if elected, countering government claims about potential reforms to the current pension indexing system. The average pension in Spain was reported at 1,576 euros per month for approximately 6.8 million beneficiaries.