Spain’s Socialist Government-Backed General Strike Ends in Riots, Looting
13th November 2026
Spain’s first general strike in 14 years, called by left-wing unions with the backing of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist government, ended in riots in Madrid and Barcelona on Nov. 11.
Protesters blocked highways and industrial areas across Spain from early morning, while public transport ran on reduced schedules. Thousands marched in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Zaragoza, and other cities.
Spain’s two largest unions, CCOO and UGT, joined tenants groups in calling a 24-hour strike over wages and rising housing costs, drawing criticism from conservative politicians, who called it an attempt to sway the vote 18 days before the snap general election.