Spain general strike over housing costs and wages; large protests expected

Spain experienced its first general strike in 14 years on November 11, 2024, driven by widespread protests against the housing crisis and rising cost of living. This significant labor action, confirmed by multiple high-confidence sources, has paralyzed industry and transport, occurring less than three weeks before snap parliamentary elections scheduled for November 29, 2024. The strike signals heightened social discontent and significant political pressure on the incumbent government, with the scale of participation and its direct impact on the election outcome remaining uncertain.