Disabled Spaniards rally to protest government austerity measures

Thousands of disabled Spanish people and their families have taken to the streets in the capital Madrid to protest against benefit cuts introduced by the ruling center-right government.

Many of the protesters were in wheelchairs and carried signs reading “SOS.” They chanted “Disabled people, abandoned” as they marched through the downtown on Sunday.

“The cuts are condemning us to social exclusion. This isn’t the only thing we need to do but it’s a good start,” 39-year-old Monica said.

Matilde Gomez said disabled people should not be last in line for help.

“We are willing to take some cuts but not to this extent,” she said.

“The people have to fight and today we have been united,” Maria Agudo, 60, who was pushing a woman in a wheelchair, said.

“I don’t know if it’s going to change anything, but at least it might weigh on their conscience,” She added.

Meanwhile, president of Spain’s Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities Luis Cayo said, “This is a historic day. Disabled people have never taken to the streets before. We’re out here now and we’re not going back.”

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Sunday it will be “very complicated” to meet Spain’s 2012 public deficit goal of 6.3 percent of gross domestic product in agreement with the European Union.

“It is very complicated to reduce the deficit by 2.6 points in a context of recession, with as many problems with revenue and such high financing costs,” he stated.

Rajoy has introduced more than 60 billion euros’ ($78 billion) worth of austerity measures since he took office at the end of last year. The spending cuts have had an unpleasant effect on Spain’s four million disabled people, and have reduced pensions.

Pensions reportedly represent 25 percent of public spending in Spain, and it is predicted that the number of pensioners will grow dramatically in the next few years.

A survey published on Sunday shows that 85 percent of Spaniards have little or no faith in the governing People’s Party.

Protests against austerity measures are held almost daily in Spain. teachers, miners, health workers and students have organized demonstrations, which have attracted hundreds of thousands of people.