Arabic version: ملايين يضربون في أنحاء إسبانيا احتجاجاً على تكاليف السكن

According to The Guardian, millions of people joined Spain’s first general strike in 14 years on Wednesday, protesting soaring housing prices before the country’s 29 November general election. The 24-hour stoppage was initially called by tenants’ associations and later backed by workers’ unions, with campaigners demanding stronger action on speculation, tourist lets and renter protections.

The Confederation of Tenants’ Association said about 4 million people had taken part by midday. Unions reported high participation in several sectors, including 90% in automotive and port work and 82% in waste collection, while saying support was uneven nationwide. Coastal regions including Catalonia and Andalucía recorded the strongest backing, where housing costs have been especially acute.

Schools and universities were reportedly closed or operating at minimal capacity. In Barcelona, pickets blocked access to factories, markets and transport hubs, while public transport nearly stopped. Roadblocks, some involving burning tyres, closed key routes including the AP-7 motorway. In Madrid, scuffles occurred near the main wholesale market and thousands of demonstrators temporarily halted traffic on the city’s main boulevard. Officials said more than 50 people were arrested over minor incidents nationwide.

Housing anger intensified after the September eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who had lived in her home for more than seven decades. Rents have risen by 80% within a decade and home prices by 63%, as properties have increasingly been used for tourist lets, speculative assets and short-term rentals. Tens of thousands later joined more than 90 marches, although marches in Cádiz, Seville, Córdoba and Huelva were cancelled after weather warnings. The strike’s official slogan was “Salaries. Housing. Prices”.