Skip to contentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.Join todayAlready a member? Log inJoseph Wilson & Teresa MedranoWednesday 11 November 2026 21:58 GMTViolent clashes broke out on Wednesday (Getty)Millions of workers took to the streets across Spain's major cities in the country's first general strike in 14 years, protesting against soaring rents, property prices, and the cost of living under the banner "Salaries. Housing. Prices."Organised by grassroots housing movements alongside major trade unions, the strike drew tens of thousands of marchers to Madrid and Barcelona, significantly disrupting public transport, heavy industry, ports, and air travel.Although the main demonstrations were largely peaceful, clashes erupted in Barcelona as small groups of protesters vandalised shopfronts and targeted riot police, contributing to 49 arrests nationwide.Campaigners are demanding strict real estate regulation, stronger tenant protections, and increased public housing, with public anger intensified by average Spanish rents nearly doubling over the past decade.The nationwide action takes place weeks ahead of a snap general election on 29 November, with opposition politicians accusing the unions of staging the strike to aid Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's left-wing coalition.In fullFireworks launched at riot police as Spain’s strike over housing crisis descends into violenceMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in