More than a million people reportedly marched nationwide demanding affordable housing and stronger tenant protections
Spain held its first major nationwide general strike in 14 years on Wednesday, with more than a million people marching against soaring rents and demanding stronger tenant protections, according to organizers.
While daytime demonstrations were largely peaceful, a rally in Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city, was followed by looting and clashes with police.
Around 4 million workers participated in the strike, Reuters reported.
The rallies took place less than three weeks before Spain’s snap parliamentary election, scheduled for November 29.
Socialist Prime Minister Sanchez called the early vote after parliament rejected two housing reform decrees on October 2. The measures, which included rent caps, stronger protections against evictions and restrictions on property speculation, were defeated by the conservative People’s Party, the right-wing Vox party and the Catalan separatist party Junts.
In the capital, protesters chanted “This is class struggle” and “Madrid will be the graveyard of landlordism.” Organizers estimated turnout at between 600,000 and 750,000, while authorities put the figure at more than 120,000.
Histórica manifestación en la huelga por la vivienda digna en Madrid con más de 120.000 manifestantes. (Vídeo de @JavierAlonsoH). https://t.co/cpca8bsJfJ
Organizers said 400,000 people participated in the demonstration in Barcelona, while police put attendance at 55,000, a figure the Tenants’ Union called a significant underestimate.
The march, organized by the Tenants’ Union and the Confederation of Housing Unions of Catalonia, saw protesters chant “Landlords, wake up, your party is over!”
🟠 AVUI SOM 400.000 PERSONES ALS CARRERS DE BARCELONA AMB UN CLAM UNÀNIME: VOLEM VIURE, NO SOBREVIURE. https://t.co/VeSz9LGopR
— Sindicat de Llogateres i Llogaters (@SindicatLloguer) November 11, 2026
According to El Pais, after the demonstration ended in Barce, groups of masked rioters erected makeshift barricades and targeted shops, smashing windows and setting garbage containers ablaze.
🔴 Els Mossos d’Esquadra i la Guàrdia Urbana han desplegat nombroses unitats d’antiavalots al centre de Barcelona. El dispositiu també compta amb un gran nombre de policies de paisà. El total de detinguts després de la manifestació ascendeix a set.
A Lego store was among the businesses vandalized, while other establishments were looted.
Han roto el escaparate de la tienda de Lego de paseo de Gràcia de Barcelona, en el interior algunas cajas por el suelo. Los manifestantes se lo miran la mayoría desde fuera. Algunos tapan el acceso #11N https://t.co/f6yVw3TgPj https://t.co/ZfqwUTDbfX
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni reported around 50 arrests following the unrest, while at least 75 people were detained nationwide during the general strike.
“Neither violence nor vandalism represents the people who demonstrated peacefully throughout the day,” Catalan regional president Salvador Illa wrote on X. “In Catalonia, those who break the law will face the consequences.”
The protest was part of a nationwide general strike that disrupted transport and commerce across Spain. Demonstrators blocked roads in Madrid, Valencia and other cities, while pickets forced some businesses to close. Rail services were disrupted, with 24% of high-speed AVE trains and 10% of Cercanías commuter services canceled, along with more than 330 flights.
Europe has seen a wave of unrest in recent weeks, with protests over rising living costs and the quality of public services in France and Germany erupting into clashes with police, vandalism and looting.
