120,000 brave rain in Madrid to demand affordable housing and better wages
Braving torrential rain, vast crowds flooded the main thoroughfares of the Spanish capital Madrid on Wednesday. Police placed attendance at approximately 120,000, and aerial footage showed packed streets completely gridlocking Madrid's historic centre.
Demonstrators unfurled banners calling for a 'General Strike' and chanted 'We have no home'. The stoppage was described as Spain's first nationwide general strike since 2012.
The 24-hour strike was called jointly by the UGT and CCOO trade unions alongside housing activist groups. It aimed to address stagnant wages, failing public services and a spiralling cost of living.
Anger over shelter has reached a boiling point in recent months. It was ignited in September by the high-profile eviction of Maricarmen, an 87-year-old pensioner in Madrid.
Union leaders hailed the turnout as 'massive', though they conceded support was uneven, peaking in heavy industry, shipping ports and coastal hubs.
Conversely, the CEOE employers' federation dismissed the action as a 'failure', claiming minimal disruption across most commercial sectors.
Coming less than three weeks before the 29 November snap election, the mobilisation firmly cements housing affordability at the heart of the national campaign.
