Police fired tear gas as sporadic clashes erupted in Madrid and Barcelona on Wednesday following widespread protests over housing affordability and purchasing power, just weeks before a snap general election.
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators turned out for Spain’s first nationwide 24-hour strike since 2012, with municipal authorities estimating roughly 120,000 marchers in the capital and upwards of 50,000 in Barcelona. The demonstrations quickly gave way to street disturbances in the country’s two largest cities as groups of masked individuals hurled projectiles at police and set fire to roadside objects.
Clashes and Arrests in Madrid and Barcelona
Video footage from Barcelona showed large rubbish skips, bicycles, and potted plants engulfed in flames while heavy contingents of police vans drove through blocked thoroughfares. Officers deployed rubber bullet launchers and tear gas to clear small groups of rioters, resulting in 18 arrests in Barcelona alone.
The massive turnout serves as a sharp indicator of public frustration ahead of a snap election set for November 29, in which Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s minority administration faces a strong challenge from the right-wing opposition. Sánchez called the early ballot after parliament rejected his proposed package of housing measures.
Protesters Demand Relief From Soaring Rents
Demonstrators braved pouring rain in Madrid, carrying house-shaped placards and chanting slogans demanding accessible accommodation. Many participants pointed to a growing disconnect between wages and real estate costs.
During the Madrid march, Paula Diaz—a 25-year-old theatre technician still living with her parents—informed AFP: “People work a lot and it isn’t enough to pay the rent, to pay for a house,” while adding in connection with the upcoming vote on November 29: “I hope a government that benefits us comes to power, especially the working class,”
In Barcelona, where an estimated 55,000 people marched down the Passeig de Gracia luxury shopping boulevard, participants criticized standard market dynamics.
“The law of supply and demand does not apply to housing,” Maria Pinana told AFP. “The price of rents should be regulated,” said the 34-year-old microbiologist, who shares a flat with friends where sections of the ceiling have collapsed.
Barcelona Transport Networks Face Disruption from Strike Walkout
The walkout disrupted public transport networks despite mandatory minimum service levels for commuter trains, metros, and buses around Barcelona. Madrid’s metro system reported that 93 percent of early morning trains ran, though passenger numbers dropped by roughly half.
UGT union leader Pepe Alvarez told public broadcaster RTVE that participation was massive, pointing to total stoppages in certain regions that made the action a huge success. However, his union conceded that mobilization remained uneven, concentrating largely in car manufacturing, petrochemicals, meat processing, and coastal tourism zones.
Conversely, the CEOE business federation dismissed the industrial action as a failure, stating that normal operations continued across most commercial sectors. The organization said that electricity demand fell by only five percent, a smaller drop than recorded during previous national strikes.
The unrest follows a wave of demonstrations sparked by the September eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner in Madrid. Valeria Racu, spokeswoman for the Madrid Tenants’ Union, vowed to put an end to the housing business, declaring that a new cycle of trade unionism and social conflict has begun.
For many workers caught between stagnant salaries and rising living expenses, the political stakes remain immediate. Isabel Iglesias, a 27-year-old nurse in Madrid, pays 1,000 euros a month in rent with her partner while earning 1,700 euros.
“He could have done much more,” Iglesias said of Sánchez, urging the next administration “to listen to everyone and get their act together.”
