Spain ground to a halt on Wednesday as millions of workers joined the country’s first general strike in 14 years, fueled by a severe housing crisis and mounting political tensions.
The nationwide walkout brought widespread disruption to major cities, halting public transport in Madrid and Catalonia and shuttering key industrial sites including Volkswagen’s plant in Pamplona.
The industrial action was called by the country’s largest trade unions, UGT and CCOO, to channel widespread public anger against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Dagbladet reported. The unions are demanding stricter regulation of the property sector, a higher minimum wage, and targeted relief from soaring living costs.
The walkout follows weeks of escalating fury over unaffordable housing, which boiled over earlier in the autumn when an 87-year-old pensioner named Maricarmen faced eviction due to a steep rent hike. Although she was later permitted to return at a reduced rent, she died in a nursing home before moving back, turning her fate into a national symbol of failed housing policies.
Clashes and arrests during nationwide protests
As picket lines formed in the early morning hours, unions reported a 90 percent turnout across public transport networks and commercial ports, while the meat-packing, waste management, and energy sectors saw heavy participation. The demonstrations quickly generated friction on the streets, leading to clashes at multiple roadblocks involving police, drivers, and picketing workers.
Police intervened as traffic gridlock choked Madrid and Catalonia, deploying pepper spray against demonstrators. Across the country, law enforcement detained at least 42 people, according to figures cited by Dagbladet, while the state broadcaster RTVE reported a slightly lower total of 23 arrests. In addition to transport stoppages, commercial warehouses and ports experienced severe delays, compounding the economic impact of the nationwide stoppage.
Parties react to strike and political instability
The strike has increased political instability ahead of a snap general election called by Sánchez for November 29. Conservative and far-right parties have seized on the unrest to attack the incumbent administration, while left-wing figures defended the labor movement.
Santiago Abascal launched a scathing attack on the prime minister over the government’s response to the protests.
“How can we not call Sánchez a dictator if, instead of protecting workers and shopkeepers, he sends his mafia-like unions after them, with their pickets and thugs? Spain doesn’t have to keep putting up with this violent mafia.” said Santiago Abascal in a post on X.
Meanwhile, the conservative Partido Popular (PP) drew heavy criticism from the ruling Socialists after publishing an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting union leaders indulging in an opulent seafood feast.
The image invoked the traditional Spanish slur “rekespiser,” or shrimp-eater, equivalent to a champagne socialist living in luxury at the expense of working people.
The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) fired back on social media against the opposition’s dismissal of the labor unrest.
“Feijóo says the strike is “nonsense.” Ayuso calls it “union garbage.” And now this. This country and its workers are too much for you. On November 29th, we will stop this. You’ll be stuck in the opposition for another four years.” wrote the PSOE in a statement on X, referring to conservative leaders Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
Antonio Maíllo of the Communist Party of Spain also condemned the PP’s tactics, stating that the opposition’s actions demonstrated desperation after landlords failed to halt the general strike.
Protesters demand housing reforms
Demonstrators are pressing specific demands to curb housing speculation, including a ban on short-term tourist rentals, investigations into real estate speculators, and expanded tenant protections featuring long-term leases with controlled rent increases. Prime Minister Sánchez previously attempted to defuse the discontent by introducing two housing reform proposals, both of which were initially voted down in the national parliament.
Following the legislative defeat, Sánchez scheduled a snap national election for November 29 in a bid to secure a new four-year mandate. The government’s path has been further complicated by a devastating high-speed train collision between Madrid and Sevilla that claimed 69 lives earlier this season, marking the second major rail disaster of the year and dominating national media coverage as the election approaches.
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