The Congress of Deputies approved this Thursday in a vote the royal decree that revalues pensions for 2026, with a generic increase of 2.7%, in a parliamentary session also marked by the rejection of the social shield that occurred in a parallel vote. Unlike that text, which has been overturned by the vote against PP, Vox and Junts, the pension decree has gone ahead with the support of all groups except Vox, which has voted against.
The approved norm establishes a general increase of 2.7%, which rises to 7% in the case of minimum pensions and 11.4% for non-contributory pensions and the minimum vital income, according to the official information from the parliamentary debate. The decree will now be processed as a bill, after the Executive chose to present it separately to the social coat of arms to guarantee its approval.
The decision affects nearly 13 million pensions and benefits, in a context in which the Government has defended the update in accordance with the CPI as a structural commitment of the public system. The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, maintained in the chamber that it is “a fair, urgent and necessary measure for the stability of the system” and stressed that “the updating of pensions in accordance with the CPI is a right that guarantees the dignity and purchasing power of the elderly.”
The revaluation is part of the scheme agreed upon in the latest reform of the system, which links pensions to the consumer price index to preserve their purchasing power. In budgetary terms, the measure consolidates the growth of pension spending, which already exceeds 14 billion euros per month, according to the latest official data published this week.
The decree also includes other complementary provisions, such as the freezing of contributions for self-employed workers in 2026, the possibility of early retirement for forest firefighters and environmental agents through an additional contribution, and the extension of the compatibility between pension and work for primary care doctors, family doctors and paediatricians.
The approval of the text, with the only rejection by Vox, represents a respite for the Executive in a legislature marked by parliamentary fragmentation and evidence that, despite disagreements on other social issues, there is a sufficient majority to support the annual update of pensions.
Help for the victims of Adamuz
In the same plenary session, Congress has also approved the aid decree aimed at alleviating the effects of the Adamuz (Córdoba) train accident, which had clearly caused a series of increases in the prices of some transport services in the hours after the accident, as well as other repercussions for passengers and families.
The decree, defended by the Minister of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030, Pablo Bustinduy, sought to avoid excessive price increases in emergency situations and reinforce consumer protection. According to the debate in the Chamber, the text sought to prevent any company from “making money at the expense of the vulnerability of citizens” in exceptional contexts.
The initiative has had the support of the Government’s usual partners, while PP, Vox and Junts were not so happy with this package of aid and actions. With its approval, the Executive reinforces the set of measures aimed at responding to emergency situations and protecting consumers against practices considered abusive.
The parliamentary day thus leaves a mixed balance for the Government: the setback in the social shield contrasts with the majority support for the revaluation of pensions and the measures linked to Adamuz, two initiatives that consolidate social commitments with broad support in the Chamber.