Spain Gripped by Nationwide Strike Amidst Escalating Housing Crisis and Cost of Living Woes

Spain is on the brink of a nationwide general strike, with growing anger over escalating rents and the cost of living threatening to ignite further social unrest just weeks before a pivotal election. The 24-hour walkout, scheduled to commence at midnight on Wednesday, has been called by Spain’s two largest unions, the Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), under the banner of "wages, housing, prices." This marks the first general strike called by these unions since the 2012 austerity crisis.

The protest is expected to significantly disrupt essential services across Spain, including transport, schools, and healthcare. Anticipated flight cancellations and delays are likely, while public transportation in major urban centers will operate with reduced capacity. Schools, hospitals, and shops may face closures or staffing shortages, though minimum services will be ensured in critical sectors.

This industrial action follows the widely publicized eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, from her Madrid home in September, after her corporate landlord raised the rent. Her subsequent passing, after being forcibly removed from her residence, resonated deeply, sparking nationwide demonstrations and encampments. These protests contributed to a political crisis, ultimately prompting the government to call snap elections for November 29.

Luke Stobart, a political analyst specializing in Spanish social movements, suggests that Wednesday's strike could effectively refocus the political debate on the housing crisis. "Sanchez has been famous for taking risks in the past, and he’s often been quite successful when he’s taken them. And he knows that if you have a general strike before elections, that will force everyone to talk about housing. And that is happening – it is helping to keep housing at the centre of the debate in the run-up to the elections," Stobart commented.

The housing shortage in Spain is substantial, with the Bank of Spain reporting a deficit of 750,000 homes, a figure projected to exceed one million by 2028. Rents have surged to an average of 1,176 euros per month, starkly contrasting with the average young person's salary of 1,190 euros, according to the Spanish Youth Council. This economic pressure forces many to live in overcrowded shared accommodations or remain with their parents.

Spain's struggles mirror those in other European nations, where mass protests over living costs have become increasingly common. While Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has not explicitly endorsed the strike, he has lauded collective action as a catalyst for social progress. "Your eight-hour working day. Your pension. Your public healthcare. None of this fell from the sky. They were collective achievements. We will not let anyone take them away from us," Sanchez stated in a recent video message, emphasizing his government's commitment to social policies over those of his political adversaries.

However, Sanchez's Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) has faced criticism for its handling of the migration crisis in Ceuta and is entangled in corruption allegations involving his close associates and family. The opposition, comprising the conservative Popular Party (PP) and the far-right Vox, has seized upon recent events, including a deadly train crash in early November that killed 69 people, to shift the national discourse towards transport safety and alleged government incompetence. The resignation of Transport Minister Oscar Puente followed this incident.

The PP currently leads in opinion polls and may form a government with Vox, potentially bringing a far-right party into Spain's national government for the first time since the Franco dictatorship. Both opposition parties have denounced the strike as politically motivated, accusing unions of targeting the government ahead of the election and criticizing its timing, which falls shortly after the state funeral for the train crash victims.

Stobart noted the strike's multifaceted nature, with various left-leaning factions presenting distinct narratives, some critical of the government. Unions such as ELA, LAB, CIG, and CGT have accused both regional and national authorities of failing to address housing speculation. "It’s not clear whether the big trade union leaders and the government are going to be able to control the narrative," Stobart warned, cautioning that the protests could escalate into broader social unrest, similar to recent events in France and Italy, potentially undermining the government.