In Spain, a 24-hour general strike began across the country against the increase in housing prices, high rents and evictions. The strike, which was held weeks before the early general elections to be held on November 29, was supported by the country's two largest unions, UGT and CCOO, as well as various worker organizations and tenant associations.
The general strike, jointly supported by two major unions for the first time in 14 years, started at midnight. Despite the adverse weather conditions, workers and tenants took to the streets in many cities to protest.
Madrid Tenants Union Spokesperson Alicia del Rio said in a statement at the beginning of the strike: "We will continue the struggle until a system is established in which housing serves the shelter of people, not the interests of a small minority of people who earn rent income."
The housing crisis in Spain is getting worse, especially for young people and low-income citizens.
According to the data of the Bank of Spain, there is a shortage of approximately 750 thousand housing units in the country. This deficit is expected to exceed 1 million by 2028.
The decrease in the number of citizens who have the economic power to buy a house increases the demand for rental housing and puts pressure on rental prices.
According to the data of the Spanish Youth Council, the average monthly rent in the country reached 1,176 Euros. This amount corresponds to 98.7 percent of the average monthly salary of young people.
The fact that rental expenses consume almost all of the income has made the housing crisis one of the most important economic and social problems in the country.
According to the first data announced by the UGT and CCOO unions, the sectors with the highest participation in the strike were port management and automotive.
Unions reported that the strike participation rate in both sectors reached 90 percent.
It was stated that production stopped completely at Volkswagen factories in Navarra and SEAT factories in Barcelona.
Other participation rates announced by unions are as follows:
Meat industry: 85 percent
Waste collection services: 82 percent
Energy sector: 75 percent
Health and social services: 38 percent
Postal services: 35 percent
It was reported that the nationwide strike caused disruptions in transportation, industry and public services.
There was tension in the first hours of the strike at the Mercamadrid wholesaler in the capital Madrid.
A fight broke out between the police and pickets in the area where approximately a thousand demonstrators gathered.
CCOO's Madrid representation announced in a statement on the social media platform X that the police intervened with pepper gas against the demonstrators and one person was detained.
The union stated that 13 people required medical assistance during the intervention.
While the police spokesman confirmed that one person was detained, he did not confirm the claim that pepper gas was used in Mercamadrid. The spokesman acknowledged that a separate protest in the Carabanchel area was intervened with tear gas.
Within the scope of the strike, it was planned to organize marches with wide participation throughout the country in the afternoon.
However, due to the impact of two storms called Charles and Bruna, adverse weather conditions occurred in many regions.
Spanish Meteorological Agency AEMET issued a warning for 14 regions due to strong winds, heavy rain and high waves.
While it was stated that weather conditions could negatively affect the protest marches, unions continued their strike calls.
Protests against the housing crisis in Spain grew larger after an 87-year-old woman was evicted from her home in Madrid and subsequently died.
Following the incident, demonstrations were held in various cities of the country and protesters set up camps.
The woman's death became one of the symbols of the social backlash against high rents and forced evictions.
On the other hand, the parliament's rejection last month of government decrees aimed at limiting evictions and reducing the pressure on rental prices also increased the reactions.
With the housing crisis at the center of political discussions, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez decided to hold early general elections on November 29.
Sanchez's government largely blames the right-wing opposition, which governs many regions and municipalities, for rising rental prices and inadequate housing supply.
However, union leaders and a significant portion of the protesters argue that the central government is also responsible for the housing crisis.
At a time when the Socialist Workers' Party, led by Sanchez, was behind in opinion polls, the early election decision intensified political debates.
It is considered that the government is trying to reshape the election agenda through social reactions to the housing problem.
On the other hand, the Sanchez administration is also the target of criticism due to corruption investigations against its close circle and the fatal train accident last month.
On November 10, one day before the general strike, train drivers also went on strike.
Following two fatal train crashes this year, drivers demanded greater investment in the maintenance of rail infrastructure and safety measures.
While many train services were canceled throughout the country due to the strike, there were serious disruptions in transportation.
Protests over the housing crisis and transport safety have increased the social pressure facing Sanchez's government ahead of early elections on November 29.
