A nationwide strike broke out in Spain, more than 50 people were arrested and traffic was blocked in many places.
Xinhua News Agency, Madrid, November 11 (Reporter Chen Yuzheng) A nationwide general strike and demonstration was held in Spain on the 11th. Clashes broke out between strikers and the police in many places, and more than 50 people were arrested. The strike also caused traffic disruptions in many places, with several highways and major city roads blocked, and rail transport affected.
According to national Spanish radio and television reports on the 11th, clashes between strikers and police took place in Madrid, Valladolid, Malaga and elsewhere that day. As of that afternoon, more than 50 people had been arrested across Spain on suspicion of public disorder, resisting law enforcement, assaulting police officers and other illegal activities.
The strike also affected transportation in many places in Spain. According to a report by the Spanish General Transport Administration that day, strikers blocked many highways and major urban roads in Madrid, the Catalan autonomous region and other places, causing traffic disruptions on some road sections. Preliminary data released by the Spanish national railways showed that as of the morning of that day, about 24% of high-speed and intercity trains were canceled, and about 10.2% of passenger shuttles and other public rail services were canceled.
The general strike was launched by the Spanish Workers' Council and the General Confederation of Labor, calling for solutions to issues such as rising housing costs, reducing the purchasing power of wages and improving public services. In recent years, issues such as rising rents and an insufficient supply of affordable housing have continued to cause discontent in Spanish society. This year, the death of an 87-year-old tenant after he was evacuated sparked weeks of protests and was an important background to the strike.
Parliamentary elections are currently taking place in Spain. As two housing laws were frustrated in parliament, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez announced on October 5 that early parliamentary elections would be held on November 29.