Clashes erupt in Barcelona during Spain's first general strike in 14 years
Tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid and Barcelona over housing costs and the rising cost of living.
Clashes broke out between police and masked men in Barcelona on Wednesday after tens of thousands of people participated in Spain's first general strike in 14 years. According to BBC News, the strike was called by major unions to protest the housing crisis and high living costs.
In Madrid, approximately 120,000 people joined demonstrations, while more than 50,000 people turned out in Barcelona. In the Barcelona protests, masked individuals ignited rubbish bins and broke shop windows as police deployed tear gas. Local media reported that some people fired fireworks at officers and looted shops, including a Lego store, while others attempted to enter an Apple Store.
The interior ministry stated that dozens of people were arrested following various incidents. The strike was triggered by protests regarding affordable housing and living expenses, following the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid home. Abascal, who had lived there for 70 years, died in hospital weeks after the eviction.
Pepe Álvarez, head of the UGT labour union, described the participation as massive, while Unai Sordo of the CC OO union called the turnout very significant. Conversely, People's Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo called the strike nonsense and described the unions as mafia and trash.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who called snap elections last month, has encouraged workers to demand affordable housing. The PP has accused the government of using the strike for electoral purposes ahead of the 29 November election.