Jakarta, ThedailyID — A workers’ demonstration in Spain turned violent after masked groups threw stones, bottles, and firecrackers at police officers.
According to Euro News, clashes between protesters and police broke out at around 7:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, November 11. The violence occurred near Passeig de Gràcia and Plaça de Catalunya in Barcelona.
Video footage showed protesters setting fire to trash bins and bicycles. Several shops also suffered vandalism, with windows smashed and stores looted.
The footage also showed riot police pushing back demonstrators using crowd-control projectiles and batons. Clashes later spread toward Las Ramblas.
At least 73 people were arrested during unrest reported across the country.
Catalonia President Salvador Illa condemned the violence, saying it did not reflect the spirit of peaceful protest.
Nationwide Strike Over Rising Living Costs
The unrest followed a mass strike involving around four million Spanish workers. It marked the country’s first nationwide general strike since 2012.
The action was driven by growing frustration over high housing costs, stagnant wages, and persistent inflation.
Average monthly rent in Spain has reached €1,176. This represents approximately 98.7 percent of the average monthly salary of young people in the country.
“I’m 36 years old and still can’t move out and live on my own. Rent keeps rising, house prices keep rising, and it’s becoming completely impossible for me,” said Jesus Gonzalez, a Madrid resident working in a hospital’s IT department, according to Reuters.
Spain’s two largest trade unions, the General Union of Workers (UGT) and the Workers’ Commissions (CCOO), supported the strike.
The nationwide action also followed several weeks of demonstrations triggered by evictions and the death of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid.
The protests took place less than three weeks before Spain’s midterm elections, scheduled for November 29.
