Parliament calls for suspension on next year's pension freeze

All parties in parliament apart from the socialists have called for the pension freeze planned for 2011, to be postponed.

Zapatero's cabinet expects to save 1,500 million euros of public funds by freezing state pensions for retirees, widows and widowers, orphans and the long-term sick next year.

Members of all other parties say it will see a 'notable reduction' in the 'confidence and credibility' of the so-called Toledo Pact, which was drafted in 1995 to regulate the future of state pensions.

Politicians in Madrid have called for the government to 'guarantee the necessary climate of trust and loyalty' and 'suspend the freezing of pensions' for 2011, since this is 'especially relevant in times of recession'.

They want to see the PSOE adopt alternative methods of saving public funds in order to cut Spain's state deficit.