Spain witnessed its first nationwide general strike in 14 years on Wednesday as millions of workers and hundreds of thousands of demonstrators protested against soaring rents, unaffordable property prices and declining purchasing power. The 24-hour action disrupted businesses, factories and public transport across the eurozone's fourth-largest economy, with the country heading into a snap general election on November 29.
The strike, organised under the slogan “Salaries. Housing. Prices.”, was the first nationwide general demonstration since 2012 to be driven primarily by anger over housing affordability. It was backed by the country's two largest trade unions, the General Union of Workers (UGT) and the Workers' Commissions (CCOO), which together represent more than a million workers, as well as tenants' associations campaigning against rising rents and evictions.
The unions estimated that around four million workers, or roughly one-fifth of Spain's workforce, participated in the strike. They reported particularly strong support in the automotive, port, transport and industrial sectors, with participation reaching 90% in some areas. Spain's electricity demand also fell by as much as 15.5% during the morning, according to the country's grid operator.
However, business representatives disputed the scale of the disruption, saying participation was limited in several sectors and that most businesses continued to operate normally.
Clashes, arrests and disruption in major cities
Barcelona and Madrid witnessed some of the largest demonstrations, with protesters braving heavy rain and taking to the streets carrying placards and banners demanding affordable homes.
In Barcelona, housing activists estimated that more than 4,00,000 people joined the march. The city government, however, put the turnout at 55,000. Demonstrators walked behind a huge banner bearing the message “Live. Not Just Survive”.
In Madrid, government officials estimated that around 120,000 people marched through the city despite pouring rain.
The demonstrations were largely peaceful during the day, but tensions escalated in several locations towards the evening. Reuters footage showed furniture being set alight on the streets of Barcelona after the main march had ended.
In Madrid, riot police fired foam bullets and used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse protesters near the central Plaza de España, according to a Reuters witness. Police reported at least 73 arrests across the country by 21:00 GMT, following at least 1,044 incidents linked to the strike. These included blockades of offices and industrial estates, as well as the burning of rubbish containers.
Unions also criticised the police response, describing it as disproportionate and indicating that they would file a criminal complaint over the use of force. Reports said around 20 protesters were injured during police operations.
Shops shut as protesters target major brands
The strike brought commercial activity to a standstill in several parts of the country. On Madrid's Gran Via, one of the capital's main shopping streets, protesters cheered as major retailers, including Primark, H&M and Pull&Bear, pulled down their shutters amid a heavy police presence.
“We're going to close the Mango store,” protesters chanted as they jingled sets of house keys above their heads, according to Reuters.
Several shops in Barcelona were also closed and boarded up ahead of the demonstrations amid fears of unrest. The city's metro and public bus services were suspended outside rush hour.
Protests later turned violent along Paseo de Gracia, one of Barcelona's main shopping boulevards. Demonstrators began smashing the storefronts of major brands, setting off small fires outside shops and burning rubbish containers. An Apple outlet was among the businesses targeted, with its entrance shattered. Protesters also launched fireworks at police officers who arrived in riot gear and armoured vans, the Associated Press reported.
Protesters say wages are no longer enough to afford homes
In Madrid, thousands continued marching along the wide Paseo del Prado boulevard as evening fell, with umbrellas filling the streets amid steady rain. Demonstrators carried placards shaped like houses and chanted “We have no home” as they demanded measures to make housing more affordable.
For many participants, the crisis was not simply about property prices but the growing inability of working people to afford even basic accommodation.
Almudena López, 74, attended the demonstration with her husband, saying they were worried about the difficulties faced by younger generations.
“My son is 43 years old and still doesn’t own a home as he cannot afford one,” López said. She added that her son, who works in the information technology sector, had to rent a small room in a shared apartment.
“When I was young, if you had a university degree, you could get a job by saving a bit, which always required some sacrifice, but you could manage. It’s nothing like it is today,” she said.
Paula Diaz, a 25-year-old theatre technician who lives with her parents, said that even working long hours was no longer enough to meet housing costs.
“People work a lot and it isn't enough to pay the rent, to pay for a house,” she told AFP. She said she hoped the November 29 election would bring a government that worked in the interests of ordinary people, particularly the working class.
Eviction and death of 87-year-old woman fuelled anger
The nationwide action followed weeks of demonstrations triggered by the eviction and subsequent death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal in Madrid.
Abascal was forcibly removed from her apartment on a stretcher on September 23 after living there for more than 70 years. She had reportedly been unable to afford steep rent increases, according to the BBC.
The company that owned the property later offered to let her return at a lower rental rate. However, Abascal had been admitted to hospital and was unable to sign the agreement.
The Madrid Tenants' Union described her death as a turning point in the country's housing movement, with activists making her case a symbol of the difficulties faced by tenants struggling with rising rents and the threat of eviction.
The incident helped galvanise housing groups and trade unions, turning an issue that had long been a source of public frustration into a nationwide campaign for stronger tenant protections and greater government intervention.
Spain's housing shortage deepens affordability crisis
Spain is facing a shortage of approximately 750,000 homes, a figure that the country's central bank expects to rise to more than one million by 2028.
The supply shortage has pushed more people towards renting, placing additional pressure on an already strained housing market. Average monthly rent has reached around €1,176, equivalent to approximately 98.7% of the average monthly salary of a young person in Spain, according to the Youth Council of Spain.
Rental prices have nearly doubled over the past decade, further widening the gap between household incomes and housing costs. Housing activists are demanding stronger tenant protections, measures to curb property speculation and an expansion of affordable public housing.
The crisis has also become a major political issue ahead of the November 29 snap election. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is hoping to channel public anger over housing into support for his government, shifting the focus away from a deadly migration incident in Ceuta and a train crash last month.
His government has defended its handling of both incidents. However, Sanchez's Socialist Party continues to trail in opinion polls.
The government has previously sought to introduce measures to ease the burden on renters, but proposed tenant-protection legislation has faced opposition in parliament. The strike has therefore intensified pressure on political parties to address the shortage of homes, rising rents and the growing cost of living.