MADRID, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of pensioners took to the streets of 86 Spanish cities on Saturday to protest against the decision taken by the Spanish government of Mariano Rajoy to only award them a 0.25 percent rise in their pensions for 2018.
The protests were held under the banner "No to 0.25 percent: Against Pensions of Misery," and aim to highlight how a pension increase, well below the rate of inflation, will cause an important loss of spending power for retired people.
Tens of thousands of pensioners who took to the streets of Madrid despite pouring rain, heard a manifesto which had been signed by over 200 organizations and 100 personalities from the world of Spanish culture and which highlighted the "deterioration and loss of spending power," among the retired people.
The leaders of the labor unions, Comisiones Obraras (CC.OO) and the General Workers' Union (UGT), Unai Sordo and Pepe Alvarez highlighted that the demonstration was the first movement of an "explosion in society," which would "provoke a change of policy."
Meanwhile Pedro Sanchez, the leaders of the Socialist Party (PSOE) said Rajoy's government "had the obligation to guarantee dignified pensions... but unfortunately they are not doing anything."
In Barcelona local police calculated that 30,000 pensioners took to the streets amidst shouts of "Rajoy resign!" or "corrupt thieves are stealing our pensions."
Saturday's demonstrations are the culmination of several weeks of protest by pensioners in Spain, but unions advise the protests will continue until pension increases are brought into line with the rate of inflation.
