Thousands of pensioners and supporters marched through central Madrid on Saturday, demanding stronger guarantees for Spain’s public pension system and increases that keep pace with the cost of living, as retirement benefits become a prominent issue ahead of the general election on 29 November.
The demonstration, organised by the Coordinadora Estatal por la Defensa del Sistema Público de Pensiones (COESPE), brought together 50,000 people according to its organisers. The central government’s delegation in Madrid estimated attendance at 25,000.
Protesters called for minimum pensions to match Spain’s statutory minimum wage, measures to close the pension gap between men and women, and protection against any move towards privatisation. Their demands covered both people already receiving pensions and younger generations concerned about their future retirement income.
The march set off from Atocha station, with its announced destination on Calle Alcalá near Sevilla metro station. Trade unions, including the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), joined the mobilisation alongside housing campaigners. ALSO READ: Spain’s housing crisis prompts general strike on 11 November, ahead of election.
Pension increases and the cost of living
At the head of the demonstration, COESPE national spokesperson Francisca López called for pension increases to reflect actual inflation, measured through the consumer price index, or IPC.
Campaigners urged political parties across parliament to safeguard public pensions and demanded an immediate public audit of the system. They argued that ‘many pensions are poverty-level pensions’ and that minimum benefits must be sufficient to meet everyday living costs.
The Confederation of Tenants’ Unions also participated, bringing demands for affordable housing into a protest focused on retirement security and household incomes.
The organisation warned that rising living costs were ‘devouring the incomes of millions of people’ and called for increases in both wages and pensions to restore lost purchasing power.
Housing pressures, it argued, extend well beyond younger people trying to find their first home. Older tenants also face rising rents, while some pensioners use their income to support children or other relatives struggling financially.
Campaigners therefore rejected the idea that these difficulties represent a clash between generations. Instead, they called for policies that allow workers, tenants and pensioners alike to maintain a decent standard of living.
Gender inequality and early retirement
Alongside demands for higher minimum payments, demonstrators called for an end to the gender pension gap.
The CGT’s platform specifically includes tackling inequalities affecting women’s pensions, particularly widow’s benefits, and preventing further privatisation of retirement provision. ALSO READ: Spain widens pension rights for unmarried parents in new social protection package.
The union also wants workers with at least 35 years of contributions to be able to retire early without reductions in their pensions. It is seeking the repeal of pension reforms introduced in 2011, 2013, 2022, 2023 and 2025. These are the CGT’s stated demands, alongside the broader objectives shared by the pensioners’ movement.
Pensions enter the election debate
The demonstration took place amid exchanges between the government and the opposition over the long-term financing of pensions and the guarantees offered to future retirees.
Earlier this month, the right-wing People’s Party (PP) MP Ester Muñoz warned that the current system would ‘collapse’ and argued that changes were needed, drawing criticism from the socialist (PSOE)-led government.
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo subsequently said his party would continue to increase pensions annually in line with inflation if it won the 29 November election and he became prime minister.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has accused the PP of undermining confidence in inflation-linked increases, pointing to its vote against the legislation that introduced the mechanism in force since 2022.
September figures illustrate the scale of the system under discussion. Spain’s Social Security system paid almost 6.8 million retirement pensions, averaging €1,576 a month. Across all contributory pension categories — including retirement, widowhood and permanent disability — it paid approximately 10.5 million benefits to 9.5 million pensioners, with an average payment of about €1,375.
Enjoying the news from Spain in English? Add us as a preferred news source in Google.
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
#Canal24Horas | En Madrid, manifestación convocada por la Coordinadora Estatal por la Defensa del Sistema Público de Pensiones
— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) October 24, 2026@MorenoMosleh https://t.co/oq6BUUymT0
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.
Click here for further details on how to ADVERTISE with us.
The post Thousands march in Madrid for higher pensions and protection against privatisation appeared first on Spain in English.