The Minister of Inclusion and new government spokesperson Elma Saiz has assured that the public pension system in Spain remains sustainable and that the executive is undergoing assessments by the Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (Airef) to prove its viability. This was explained in an interview published by La Vanguardia and reported by Europa Press, in which he stressed that no reforms were planned, such as extending the work calculation period for calculating pensions to 35 years, a measure recently recommended by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Saiz emphasized that the Spanish government believes that the reforms implemented already meet the current needs of the system.
As detailed by La Vanguardia, Saiz clarified that the analysis of social security systems carried out by the OECD is not comparable to the specific study developed by Airef, nor to the commitments made to the European Commission. The minister noted that in addition to proposing adjustment measures, the OECD has positively assessed various aspects of the social security framework in force in Spain. He noted that the government’s reform agenda is moving in the direction it believes is right and that no further changes are envisaged in line with the OECD proposals.
In the same interview, Elma Saiz addressed the current political context, particularly the rise of Vox and the decline of support for the PSOE in Extremadura. In this context, he claimed that the citizens of autonomous communities where there are government agreements between the People’s Party and Vox still do not fully understand the consequences of the policy, which, in his words, represents “regression and cuts”. “This government is the guarantor of the rights that Vox wants to damage,” Saiz said, quoted by Europa Press. He added that the actions of the central executive are curbing certain measures promoted by these autonomous pacts.
With regard to specific situations, the minister referred to the recent eviction in Badalona (Barcelona), where several people have been living on the streets since mid-December. Saiz criticized the actions of the municipal council managed by the PP, which has the power to offer alternatives to those affected. “For anyone with a modicum of humanity, this is racist, inhumane and barbaric. Where is Feijóo the moderate?” he asked questions in statements that were reported by the media.
Maintaining the PSOE-Sumar alliance was also part of Saiz’s analysis in La Vanguardia. He assured that the coalition was fully guaranteed despite specific differences of opinion between both parties, which he considered normal in a coalition government. He pointed out that the common goal remains to improve the living conditions of the population, regardless of the differences that have arisen in the joint work.
Regarding the fight against corruption, Saiz acknowledged that the emergence of cases in the public eye was a source of dissatisfaction with the institutions. As Europa Press reported, the minister stressed that this problem affects not only the PSOE but also the PP, and expressed her satisfaction at being part of a party that, in her opinion, acts quickly when there are signs of corruption. He stressed the need to strengthen citizens’ trust in the institutions and decided to continue efforts in this regard.
Asked about the delay in updating the self-employment quotas at the beginning of the new year, Saiz clarified that the 2026 financial year is still ahead of us to address the debate and find a valid consensus. According to Europa Press, he reiterated his personal commitment to reaching an agreement supported by the House of Representatives.
During the interview, the minister stressed that the current pension measures are sufficient and that the government does not intend to change the legislation according to internationally proposed conditions. He pointed out that the reports prepared by Airef provide additional guarantees of the strength of the Spanish system and explained that the executive maintains a constant dialogue with the community and the national bodies responsible for monitoring the sustainability of the model.
Elma Saiz concluded her contribution by reaffirming the Cabinet’s commitment to social protection and the defense of civil rights, describing the current government as a “guarantor” against possible cuts by political forces further to the right of the parliamentary spectrum. The statements made during the interview were widely repeated in the national media and clarified the executive’s position in the face of the challenges and criticisms prevailing in the current political landscape.
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