Madrid pension rally draws 250,000, authorities say

Madrid authorities said about 250,000 people marched through the Spanish capital on Saturday to demand protection for the state pension system, a major issue before Spain's November 29 parliamentary election.

Demonstrators walked from Atocha train station to Gran Via, with some carrying banners calling for pensions to be protected and guaranteed. The march took place amid debate over the cost of living and whether Spain's pension system can be sustained.

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has accused the right of planning to weaken the mechanism that links pension increases to inflation. He has pointed to the opposition Popular Party's vote against the 2022 legislation that introduced the link.

Earlier in October, Popular Party MP Ester Munoz said the current pension system would "collapse" and called for it to be changed, drawing criticism from the government.

Popular Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo said on Monday that his party would continue to raise pensions in line with inflation every year if it won the election and he became prime minister.

About 6.8 million people in Spain receive a state pension. The average amount in September was 1,576 euros, or $1,765, a month, according to the social security ministry.