Union-led general strikes across Spain have caused widespread disruption to public services, marking the first such action in 14 years. The strike, called over housing affordability and high living costs, occurred less than three weeks before Spanish parliamentary elections on November 29th. Demonstrations were also planned later in the day, with the biggest protests expected in Madrid and Barcelona. Notable disruptions were reported in industrial hubs such as Madrid and Catalonia's north-eastern region, where traffic was halted on several main roads. The Spanish government, led by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has encouraged participation in the strike, while opposition parties have accused the government of politicizing the action for electoral gain. The eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home in Madrid sparked widespread protests and fueled calls for affordable housing. However, the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations described participation as "low and uneven."
SUMMARY (CONTINUED):
The general strike was prompted by growing public discontent over soaring rental prices in cities like Madrid, where the average monthly cost of a 50m² apartment is €1,170. This amounts to nearly half the average gross salary, exceeding the recommended 30% affordability level by housing experts and public institutions. Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez called snap elections last month after parliament failed to approve his plan for housing reform. While previous general strikes have been problematic for the government in power, this one is different as Sánchez and his ministers have publicly supported the workers' demands for affordable housing. Opposition parties such as the conservative People's Party (PP) have criticized the strike, with leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo calling it "nonsense" and accusing the unions of being a "mafia" and "trash."
SUMMARY (CONTINUED):
Among those participating in the general strike was Gonzalo Álvarez, a 27-year-old salesman who has been volunteering for a housing union. He was deeply affected by the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman who faced a tripling of her rent under new landlords and later died in hospital. Álvarez rents a small, one-bedroom flat with his girlfriend, a dental hygienist, in Madrid's southern Arganzuela district, paying €1,000 between them, which means each spends about half of their salary on housing. Miguel Garrido, vice-president of the CEOE, Spanish biggest business association, criticized the strike, stating that businesses had little to do with the price of housing. Power usage in Spain fell by 7.5% during the early hours of Wednesday, according to data from operator Red Eléctrica, indicating a significant drop in industrial activity during the strike. Demonstrations were planned for some of Spain's biggest cities later in the day, with the scale of support serving as an indicator of public discontent ahead of the election.