Fear of shifting the focus of the election! 4 million workers strike in Spain, 73 people arrested in clashes between police and civilians
The strike comes less than three weeks before early congressional elections, and clashes between police and civilians broke out in parts of Barcelona and Madrid at night
Quick Look
- About 4 million workers in Spain held a nationwide general strike on the 11th to protest against the worsening housing crisis.
- The number of participants accounted for about one-fifth of the country's working population.
- The strike ended largely peacefully, but clashes between police and civilians broke out in parts of Barcelona and Madrid in the evening, and at least 73 people were arrested.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
This is the first nationwide strike since Spanish workers went on strike to protest the government's austerity measures during the euro zone debt crisis in 2012. The strike is supported by two major unions, the General Union of Trade Unions (UGT) and the Workers' Council (CCOO), which together represent more than 1 million workers. In addition, renters' groups dissatisfied with rent increases and evictions have also joined the ranks.
About 4 million workers in Spain launched a nationwide general strike on the 11th to protest the country's increasingly serious housing crisis. The number of participants accounted for about one-fifth of the country's working population. The union said the strike ended largely peacefully, but clashes between police and civilians still broke out in parts of Barcelona and Madrid in the evening.
Reuters reported that despite the stormy weather, workers still set up strike pickets on the 11th, and large-scale demonstrations were also held in Madrid, Barcelona and cities across Spain. The nationwide strike comes less than three weeks before Spain's early congressional elections.
In the evening, some demonstrators clashed with the police in Barcelona. Footage captured by Reuters showed furniture being set on fire in the streets after the main march.
Tensions also rose in Madrid. Witnesses told Reuters that riot police used foam bombs, tear gas and pepper spray to disperse demonstrators around Plaza de Espana in the city center.
The police reported that as of 9 p.m. GMT on the 11th (5 a.m. Taiwan time on the 12th), at least 73 people had been arrested across Spain, and at least 1,044 notifications related to the general strike had been received, including blocking offices and industrial parks, and burning trash cans.
This is the first nationwide strike since Spanish workers went on strike to protest against the government's fiscal austerity measures during the 2012 euro zone debt crisis.
The strike is supported by Spain's two major labor unions, the General Union of Labor (UGT) and the Workers' Council (CCOO). 2 Unions represent more than 1 million workers. In addition, renter groups dissatisfied with rent increases and evictions have also joined in supporting the strike.
According to Reuters analysis, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hopes to use voters' dissatisfaction with housing issues in the congressional election to be held on the 29th of this month to divert attention from the deadly immigration incident in Ceuta and the train accident that occurred last month.
Although Sanchez's government continues to defend its handling of the disaster, his Socialist Party is still lagging in the polls.
The unions declared the strike a success, although the level of participation varied across Spain, with the response most enthusiastic in coastal areas where housing pressure was particularly severe.
Open Questions
- Will the strike lead to concrete changes in Spanish housing policy?
- Will police-citizen clashes lead to further legal consequences or investigations?
- Will the strike affect the outcome of the congressional election on the 29th?
