Madrid pensioners join European protests for inflation-indexed pensions

Thousands of pensioners marched in Madrid on Saturday demanding better public pensions, as parallel protests across Europe prompted heightened security and fears of fresh violence. Organized by the pensioners' movement and backed by the CGT union, demonstrators called for inflation-indexed pensions, a minimum pension matching the minimum wage, closing the gender gap, and protecting the system from privatization. They also sought easier early retirement and repeal of post-2011 reforms. The Madrid rally coincided with protests in France, where 70,000 police were deployed, and Italy, with 3,300 officers in Rome and Milan, following violent unrest on October 17-18.