Thousands of protesters have gathered in Madrid, joining a broader wave of demonstrations across Europe to demand better public pensions. The march, organized by pensioners' groups and supported by trade unions like the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), began at Atocha station and is heading towards Calle Alcalá. Demonstrators are calling for pensions that ensure a decent standard of living, including measures like linking pension increases to inflation, raising the minimum pension to match the minimum wage, and closing the gender pension gap.
The protests in Madrid come as several European countries brace for a weekend of demonstrations over various political and economic issues. In France, authorities have deployed 70,000 police officers and gendarmes to manage heightened tensions, including protests against Marine Le Pen's National Rally congress in Orléans. Italy is also increasing security, with 1,500 officers in Rome and 1,800 in Milan, following recent violent unrest over the rising cost of living and government policies.
While the demonstrations have different focuses, they reflect growing political and economic tensions across Europe. Governments are facing increasing pressure over living standards, public spending, and social policies, with fears of renewed violence prompting tighter security measures in major cities.