Spain's housing shortage sparks first general strike in 14 years

Workers in Spain took to the streets on Wednesday, forming picket lines in many cities despite adverse weather. The action marks the country's first general strike in 14 years and is driven by a deepening housing shortage and rising rental costs.

The crisis, highlighted by the eviction and death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal in Madrid, has intensified political debate ahead of a snap election scheduled for November 29. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government attempted to pass rent-relief legislation, but opposition parties blocked the measures in parliament. In response, the government approved two extraordinary decrees with provisions similar to the rejected reforms.

"We won't stop until we transform this country's housing model from top to bottom so that houses are for living instead of being at the service of the [landlord] minority," said Alicia del Rio, spokesperson for the Madrid Tenants' Union.

Most demonstrations remained peaceful, though police used pepper spray at a protest outside Madrid's Mercamadrid wholesale market, resulting in at least 13 injuries. Airline and airport staff also participated, causing some flight disruptions.

Spain faces a deficit of roughly 750,000 homes, projected to exceed one million by 2028, according to the central bank. The average rent of €1,176 per month represents about 99 % of a typical young person's salary, according to the youth council. The strike follows a rail workers' walkout over recent train crashes, adding infrastructure concerns to the electoral agenda.

Conservative People's Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo dismissed the strike as an "absurdity" if it is intended to target the opposition. Government sources described the action as being held "in favor of rights" rather than against any party, while some participants expressed skepticism, saying the strike appears designed to boost the ruling party's electoral prospects.