Pensioners march in Madrid to demand dignified pensions

Pensioners are marching this Saturday in Madrid to demand dignified pensions, annual increases tied to the consumer price index (CPI) and an end to the gender gap, according to euronews. The demonstration began at midday in Atocha and is scheduled to cross the center of the capital as far as Calle de Alcalá.

The protest coincides with a day of demonstrations in France and Italy, where authorities have stepped up security measures amid the high cost of living. In France, 70,000 police officers and gendarmes have been deployed, while Italy has assigned 1,500 officers in Rome and 1,800 in Milan.

Among the main demands of the march are equating the minimum pension with the minimum wage and rejecting the privatization of the public system. Unions are also calling for easier early retirement without penalties for those who have contributed for 35 years.