Protesters clashed with police in Madrid and Barcelona after tens of thousands rallied across Spain against soaring housing costs during the country's first nationwide 24-hour strike since 2012.
Authorities estimated about 120,000 people marched through Madrid on Wednesday, and more than 50,000 rallied along Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona. Sporadic clashes broke out in both cities. Police fired tear gas and used rubber bullet launchers, while demonstrators hurled projectiles and set fires. Police arrested 18 people in Barcelona.
The protests followed the September eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner in Madrid. A snap general election is now set for November 29, instead of 2027. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who has governed since 2018, called the vote after his minority government failed to pass a housing package in parliament. The right-wing opposition is expected to defeat him.
The strike disrupted transport. Madrid's metro said 93 percent of its trains ran in the early morning, though passenger numbers were down by about half, while Barcelona saw disruptions despite minimum service rules. Electricity demand fell about 5 percent, which the CEOE business group said was significantly lower than in previous strikes.
Pepe Alvarez, leader of the UGT union, called participation massive and the strike a huge success, while acknowledging it was uneven. The CEOE called the strike a failure and said most sectors operated normally.
Valeria Racu, spokeswoman for the Madrid Tenants' Union, pledged to end the country's housing business and said a new cycle of union action was beginning.
Marchers said rents are out of reach. Paula Diaz, a 25-year-old theater technician, said wages do not cover rent. Isabel Iglesias, a 27-year-old nurse who pays 1,000 euros ($1,100) in rent with her partner on a monthly salary of 1,700 euros, said Sanchez could have done much more on housing.
