Madrid rents for a 50-square-meter apartment reached €1,170 in October, nearly half of Spain’s average gross monthly salary, according to property portal Idealista.
Tens of thousands of people joined Spain’s first general strike in 14 years on Wednesday. Workers and housing activists protested rising living costs and property prices.
The 24-hour walkout began at midnight on Wednesday under the slogan “Salaries. Housing. Prices.”
Violent clashes broke out in Barcelona on Wednesday evening. Most of the day’s activity was peaceful, but Cadena SER said protesters launched fireworks toward police lines.
The Mossos d’Esquadra established a cordon. Officers deployed riot shields and tear gas. They warned of charges if the disturbances did not stop.
The Confederation of Tenants’ Association estimated that about 4 million people participated in more than 90 marches across the country by midday. In Madrid, authorities estimated 120,000 people joined the demonstration despite heavy rain.
Demonstrators blocked the AP-7 motorway into Barcelona in both directions with burning tyres. The city’s metro and buses also stopped running outside of rush hour.
Estimates for the Barcelona protests varied. Organizers estimated 10,000 people joined an alternative march from plaza Verdaguer to Via Laietana.
The CEOE, Spain’s largest business association, called the strike a “failure.” Both the CEOE and the unions said turnout was high in transport and heavy industry. However, turnout was lower in sectors like retail.
Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his ministers encouraged workers to participate. Sánchez told Spanish television, “What is nonsense is to question the rights of workers to strike.”
Sánchez also defended public services on social media. He said public healthcare and other services were “collective conquests.”
Escalating housing and living costs drove the strike. Rents in Spain have increased by 80% over the last decade. Home purchase prices have also risen by 63%.
The average rent in Madrid now consumes nearly half of the average gross monthly salary of 2,460 euros. This exceeds the 30% affordability threshold recommended by housing experts and public institutions.
Protests in late September helped build the movement. They were triggered by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid residence. Abascal had lived in the flat for seven decades before new landlords tripled her rent. She died in the hospital weeks after her eviction.
Economic pressure is a matter of survival for many. Olga Domingo, a 37-year-old teacher, said, “The housing situation is outrageous. The current cost of living compared to wages is completely unsustainable.”
Carlos Ferrer, a customer service worker trying to travel from Barcelona to Alicante by train, suggested only radical measures like a general strike can force a change in direction.
Camil Ros, the Secretary General of UGT in Catalonia, described the march for housing and wages as a peaceful and democratic success. He said this during an interview with José Luis Sastre on Hora 25. Ros said the disturbances were unrelated to the official union call for action.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. monthly rent (50 sq m, Madrid) | €1,170 ($1,300) | Idealista |
| Avg. gross monthly salary (Spain) | €2,460 | Idealista |
| Max. forecasted wind speed (Storm alerts) | 75 mph (120 km/h) | State meteorological agency |
The state meteorological agency issued 14 storm alerts. Severe weather impacted the mobilization.
Organizers had to cancel planned marches in Seville, Cordoba, Cadiz, and Huelva.