Summary
A general strike over housing affordability and the rising cost of living disrupted transport and public services across Spain on 11 November. The walkout came ahead of the 29 November parliamentary election, as unions and business groups gave sharply different assessments of participation and political leaders argued over the strike’s role in the campaign.Key Facts
- The strike was Spain’s first general strike in 14 years and was called by the country’s main unions.
- Traffic stopped on several major roads, with substantial disruption reported in Madrid and Catalonia.
- Union leaders described participation as massive or very significant, while the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations called it low and uneven.
- The interior ministry said dozens of people were arrested in connection with various incidents.
- The strike followed protests over housing costs and living expenses, including public attention to the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid flat.
- Idealista reported that an average 50-square-metre apartment in Madrid rented for €1,170 a month in October; Spain’s average gross monthly salary was about €2,460.
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his government supported the strike, while the conservative People’s Party accused the government of using it for electoral gain.
- Spain is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on 29 November, after Sánchez called an early vote following parliament’s rejection of his housing reform plan.
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