Tens of thousands rally in Madrid to defend Spain's public pensions

Tens of thousands of people rallied in Madrid on October 24 to defend Spain's public pension system, with organizers estimating 50,000 participants while the government counted 25,000. The protest comes amid heightened political debate over pensions ahead of elections. The annual October march drew double the usual turnout, driven by pension reform becoming a key election issue. Right-wing politicians from Vox and the People's Party recently made controversial statements suggesting the current system is unsustainable and proposing mixed models with private savings. Protest coordinator Ramon Franquesa warned against redirecting worker contributions to private pension funds, citing the 2008 financial crisis as evidence of private sector vulnerability. He urged voters to consider politicians' pension positions when casting ballots.