Sanchez Feijoo Clash Over Record 14.5 Billion Euro Pension Bill

Pedro Sanchez and Alberto Nunez Feijoo are trading public accusations over the funding of Spain's state pension system, a fight that has moved from parliamentary debates to the streets of Madrid. On Saturday, approximately 25,000 demonstrators gathered in the capital, marching from Atocha train station to the Gran Via. The rally took place just before next month's general election.

The crowd, which included travelers from across the country, carried banners demanding that pensions remain indexed to inflation. Marchers also called for the elimination of the gender pension gap. Their central fear is that the winning party in the upcoming vote will weaken the state scheme. Emilio Delgado, a deputy spokesperson for the left-wing party Mas Madrid, posted on X that no pension should fall below the minimum wage, arguing that a lifetime of work deserves a dignified retirement.

The pressure on the system is measurable. Spain's monthly pension bill reached a record high of almost 14.5 billion euros, or $16.2 billion, this year. The cost has climbed due to an aging population, low birth rates, and stagnant wages. As the ratio of workers to pensioners falls, the scheme relies increasingly on state funding.

Sanchez has accused the right-wing Popular Party of planning to weaken inflation-linked increases if it secures power. He pledged to keep the current system, which he describes as affordable. Feijoo responded on Monday, stating he would continue to raise pensions in line with inflation if his party wins the vote.

The pension dispute sits within a wider wave of European protests covering cost of living, school conditions, and alleged corruption. For Spanish workers and retirees, the outcome of the election will determine whether the current inflation-linked protections remain in place.