Kurz vor Neuwahl: Generalstreik in Spanien für bezahlbares Wohnen

As the Spanish government prepares for the upcoming general election on November 29th, a nationwide strike has begun to address the housing crisis. Protests have turned into road blockades and clashes between strikers, motorists, and police, particularly in Catalonia and Madrid, disrupting traffic and preventing many people from reaching their workplaces.

At least 23 individuals were arrested nationwide during the early protest days, according to the state broadcaster RTVE. Labor unions have criticized the police for their heavy-handed response.

The strike, initiated by the two major unions CCOO and UGT, comes just 13 days before the parliamentary election. While the government backs the strike action, right-wing opposition parties label it as ideologically motivated. This marks the first nationwide strike in Spain in 14 years, triggered by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal in September.

The frail pensioner had lived rent-free in the same apartment for seven decades before her death a few days later in the hospital. Her plight has become a symbolic symbol for the housing shortage in Spain.

Recession wages lag behind as housing costs have risen faster than real incomes in Spain for years. Construction of new homes has not kept pace with demand, pushing prices upwards. Union estimates indicate that between 40 and 80 percent of workers in various industries participated in the initial hours of the strike. However, the business association CEOE claimed the participation was minimal.