HUNDREDS of Spanish State pensioners surrounded the Bank of Spain early today in protest over what they call the 'theft' of their livelihood.
They have long been clamouring for the government to axe the 2013 pensions reform, which sets a legal minimum of 0.25% on annual State pension increases, rather than rises automatically being in line with inflation as before.
Since the start of 2012 when the current right-wing PP government had just gained power, State pensions have only ever gone up by this legal minimum, leaving their recipients poorer in real terms today than six years ago.
Organised by two of Spain's largest unions – the Labourers' Commissions (CCOO) and General Workers' Union (UGT) – the protest was extensive enough that participants were able to surround the full 1,300-metre perimeter of the Bank of Spain building, which sits opposite the Cibeles fountain in the heart of Madrid.
