Spaniards join first nationwide strike in 14 years over housing crisis

Mass protests in Spain over sharp rise in housing prices

Spain is experiencing heightened social tension: the country has seen its first nationwide strike in the past 14 years. The main reason for the mass street demonstrations is the acute housing crisis, accompanied by a rapid increase in the cost of renting and buying property.

Millions of citizens joined the protest actions. The largest trade union organisations and tenants' associations expressed their support for the strike. In some cities, protesters blocked traffic, and in isolated cases, the situation escalated into clashes with the police. In Barcelona, for instance, participants obstructed vehicle movement by setting car tyres on fire, while in Madrid, waste bins were used to block roads. Clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers were also recorded in the capital.

Statistics: rents up 80% in a decade

Economic indicators point to the scale of the problem. Over the past ten years, the cost of renting housing in Spain has increased by 80%. Property purchase prices have also risen significantly, growing by 63% over the same period.

Symbol of the crisis: eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal

One of the key factors that ignited a new wave of public outrage was the story of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal. In September, she was evicted from the home where she had lived for over 70 years. This incident became one of the symbols of the housing crisis in the country.

Strikers' demands and political context

Participants in the general strike put forward specific demands to the authorities. They are calling for the implementation of a moratorium on rent increases, strengthened protection of vulnerable groups from forced eviction, and tighter regulation of the short-term rental market.

It is worth noting that these mass protests took place less than three weeks before the snap general elections scheduled for 29 November.