Briefing
Spain's Tenants’ movement has reminded the general strike described as a protest against governments of all political stripes in support of affordable housing. The 11 November mobilisation was not directed solely at the opposition, Valeria Racu, spokesperson for Madrid tenants’ organisation Sindicato de Inquilinas, said on the day of the strike. She also warned against the action being co-opted for the election campaign .
Two days after the general strike, the official campaign for the snap Parliamentary electionbegins on 13 November. Voting takes place on 29 November. The corresponding decree dissolved both the Congress of Deputies and the Senate. The Housing issue is one of the issues shaping political debate ahead of the vote.
As well as tenants’ organisations , several Trade unions called for the 24-hour walkout, including the major workers’ organisations Comisiones Obreras and Unión General de Trabajadores. They demanded better access to housing and wages that would make it possible to afford a home. According to public broadcaster RTVE, there were numerous demonstrations. It was the first nationwide general strike backed by the major trade unions since 2012.
According to news agency Europa Press, Racu said the movement would not accept mere stopgap measures that left the housing business untouched. Alicia del Río, another spokesperson for the tenants’ organisation, told elDiario.es that the housing problem could not be solved by an election alone. The movement intends to continue pursuing its demands regardless of who governs next.
The strike took place amid political tensions: in early October, the Congress of Deputies had rejected two housing decrees put forward by the government. Early elections were then called. Right-wing parties also criticised the mobilisation because of its proximity to the election date; left-wing parties supported it.
On 12 November, the Congress’s standing committee again considered two government housing decrees. A provision for the automatic extension of tenancy agreements failed to secure a majority, news agency EFE reported. The dispute over specific measures will therefore carry over into the election campaign.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).