Clashes in Spain as millions protest nation's housing crisis

Spain's first general strike in 14 years brought Madrid's main Gran Vía Boulevard to a standstill with strikers and their supporters confronting riot police as they shut down businesses, transit and factories. Across Europe, the soaring cost of living has sparked unrest. Here in Spain, the anger is focused on housing. It's impossible to live in any city in Spain like in Madrid because the normal people without a job, the families cannot rent. What's unusual about this general strike is that the Prime Minister is in favour of it. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez triggered a snap election, in part over the backlash from the from the eviction of 87-year-old Marie Carmen Abascal. She couldn't afford her rising apartment rent and died soon after. The conservative opposition blocked subsequent pro-tenant legislation and Sánchez may be hoping this anger rallies his base. Nevertheless, this independent journalist says Sánchez, one of Europe's last remaining left-wing leaders, faces an uphill fight. I think it's very vulnerable because he's been in the government for eight years and I think now people in Spain are very concerned about The possibility that you're evicted from your home. The housing crisis isn't Sanchez's only headache. He's fending off political fallout from last month's deadly train crash as well as a surge in migrant arrivals from Africa. By day's end, some of the clashes were more intense. The opposition downplayed the strikers' numbers but the unions say having four million people take part while much of Spain endured a huge rainstorm was a good outcome. Chris Brown, CBC News, Madrid.