Millions join Spain's first general strike in 14 years as anger over housing leads to clashes

Burning barricades, smashed shop windows and fireworks fired at police. After a day of nationwide demonstrations, violence erupted in Barcelona. Most protesters, however, took to the street peacefully under the slogan Salaries, Prices, Housing. My tenancy agreement expired some time ago and the landlord has refused to renew it because they want to turn the property into a holiday flat charging 2,000 euros a month. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. It was Spain's first general strike in 14 years, backed by the country's largest unions. The walkout disrupted shops, public transport, schools and healthcare services, and brought hundreds of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets across the country. In Madrid, some 120,000 protesters braved the pouring rain. Something has to be done. You can't just sit at home. I think we have to fight for this, just as those before us have fought. Public anger over Spain's housing crisis reached boiling point following the televised eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home in Madrid in September. Her death just two weeks later sparked further outrage. The protests prompted the government to introduce emergency measures aimed at curbing evictions, but the proposals were rejected in parliament, with right-wing parties voting against them. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez responded by calling a snap election for November 29, hoping to turn public anger into votes.