Tomás Guitarte of the party Teruel Existe supported the nationwide general strike on 11 November and drew attention to the housing shortage in rural areas. There is also a very serious problem in small towns and villages, the candidate for the Spanish Congress of Deputies said, according to a report by Europa Press.
At a press conference, Guitarte referred to the situation in Teruel and Alcañiz. The difficulties were not limited to large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. In his view, the shortage of available homes makes it harder for people to settle in rural communities. Sometimes, residents have to move to a larger city or regional capital in search of public housing.
Guitarte said that some jobs on offer also remained unfilled because interested applicants could not find accommodation locally. He distinguished between the existing housing stock and homes actually being offered on the market. In many villages, houses are empty or uninhabitable. Owners should be supported with renovations so that these properties can return to the market.
The politician called for a public stock of rental homes in villages and smaller regions as well. The state, autonomous communities, regional administrative units and municipalities would need to work together to achieve this. The report gave no figures for costs or a timetable.
The general strike is directed, among other things, against the housing shortage. Those calling it include the trade unions UGT, CCOO and CGT, as well as an umbrella organisation of tenants’ groups. According to the UGT trade union, higher wages, progress in collective bargaining and stronger social rights are also among the demands. Among other things, it is calling for rent caps and greater protection against evictions.
The Spanish government set minimum services for the strike to ensure, among other things, the electricity supply and the safety of facilities. This does not indicate the actual level of participation in the walkout.
The protest comes in the run-up to the Parliamentary election on 29 November 2026. Guitarte is standing for Teruel Existe in the Congress of Deputies election. According to the government, the official election campaign begins on 13 November.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).