Photos: Protesters clash with police after housing cost rallies in Spain

What the report says

Protests over housing affordability and falling purchasing power escalated into clashes with police in Madrid and Barcelona, according to Al Jazeera’s photo report from 12 November 2026. The demonstrations came during Spain’s first nationwide 24-hour general strike since 2012, with organizers and unions presenting the action as a response to the cost of living and housing pressures.

The article says authorities estimated about 120,000 people marched in Madrid and more than 50,000 gathered in Barcelona. In both cities, some masked and hooded protesters threw objects and set fires, while police used rubber bullets and tear gas to push crowds back. The unrest also spread beyond the main cities, with blockades, container fires and disruptions reported at offices and industrial areas.

Police said at least 73 people had been arrested nationwide by 21:00 GMT, in connection with more than 1,000 incidents linked to the strike. Al Jazeera noted that participation varied across the country, even as union leaders described the stoppage as a success.

The protests took place only weeks before an early general election, adding political pressure to a longstanding debate in Spain over housing costs, wages and the gap between economic growth and everyday affordability. That broader context helps explain why the issue has become a major flashpoint in public life.