Spain’s first general strike in 14 years brings mass protests and clashes

Spain’s first general strike since 2012 brought millions of workers into a nationwide protest on Wednesday, with unrest breaking out in several cities. Demonstrators rallied over housing, evictions and high living costs, less than three weeks before the country holds a snap general election.

Officials put the number of people on Barcelona’s streets at more than 55,000. Footage from the city showed demonstrators confronting riot police, burning bins and smashing shop windows. In Madrid, where an estimated 120,000 people gathered, police deployed foam bullets, tear gas and pepper spray to disperse protesters.

Authorities reported dozens of arrests across the country. The strike also interrupted public transport and prompted temporary business closures. Union leaders described the action as a success, although participation varied between areas and stormy conditions affected some of the demonstrations that had been planned.

The General Union of Workers and the Workers’ Commissions, Spain’s two biggest unions, backed the strike. Together, they represent more than a million workers. Tenants’ associations also supported the action amid anger over average rents that have nearly doubled over the past decade. Campaigners want stronger protections for tenants and measures against real estate speculation.

Figures from the Youth Council of Spain illustrate the pressure facing younger renters. It puts the average rent at €1,176, or £982, an amount equivalent to approximately 98.7% of a young person’s average monthly salary in Spain.

Among those protesting in Madrid was Almudena Lopez, 74, who attended with her husband. She said her 43-year-old son works in IT but cannot afford to buy a home and instead rents a small room in a shared apartment. Lopez contrasted his circumstances with her own youth, when she said a university education, employment and saving made it possible to manage financially despite the sacrifices involved.

Carlos Ferrer, a 45-year-old customer service worker who had been travelling home from Barcelona, said “radical measures” could sometimes be necessary. He argued that citizens needed to put pressure on the authorities to prompt action.

Wednesday’s strike followed weeks of protests over the eviction and subsequent death of Maricarmen Abascal, 87, in Madrid. Abascal, who used a wheelchair, was forcibly removed in September from the apartment where she had lived for seven decades. Her case became a symbol of the country’s housing crisis. She was permitted to return after tens of thousands demonstrated in Madrid, but died a few days later.

Those protests, together with parliament’s rejection in October of government decrees intended to curb evictions and ease rent pressures, led Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call an election. Voting is scheduled for 29 November.