Doctors across Spain began a four-day strike Monday, halting non-emergency services to protest the government’s healthcare framework statute. The perform stoppages, scheduled to occur weekly through June, represent a significant escalation in a dispute over working conditions and resource allocation within the national health system.
The strike impacts public hospitals nationwide, though minimum services are being maintained to address emergency cases. Specific dates for the rolling strikes include February 16th-20th, March 16th-20th, April 27th-30th, May 18th-22nd, and June 15th-19th. More than 210,000 doctors are participating in the protest, according to organizers.
The industrial action comes as the Spanish government similarly considers measures to address the country’s escalating housing costs. According to reports in Spanish media outlets El País and SER, officials are exploring the possibility of implementing tax penalties for landlords who increase rents. This proposal is being studied alongside an existing system of tax rebates for landlords who lower rental prices, a measure currently in place in areas experiencing significant housing stress and potentially extending nationwide.
The potential tax penalties aim to gradually reduce the 50 percent reduction in net rental income currently offered to landlords who decrease apartment prices. The government’s actions reflect growing concern over housing affordability, particularly in major cities.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, defended Spain’s current level of defense spending and rejected calls for increased investment to 5 percent of GDP. Sánchez emphasized the importance of European investment in defense capabilities in light of threats posed by Russia, stating that strengthening defenses is crucial for protecting freedoms and international alliances. Though, he explicitly opposed nuclear rearmament, arguing it is “not the right way to go.”
In Barcelona, data from the City Council reveals a growing trend of foreign investment in the property market. In 2025, foreigners accounted for nearly half (49.6 percent) of all apartment purchases in the Barceloneta neighborhood, known for its beach and tourism. The proportion was also high in the nearby Ciutat Vella (old town), with 42 percent of transactions involving foreign buyers. Across Barcelona, foreigners purchased 23 percent of apartments, and 15 percent across Catalonia, with the province of Girona recording the highest proportion at 27.1 percent.
