Housing protests fill Barcelona and Madrid as Spain’s workers strike ahead of election

BARCELONA, Spain: Millions of Spanish workers shut down businesses and public transportation across the eurozone’s fourth largest economy on Wednesday before thousands took to the streets of major cities in a nationwide protest over soaring rents and real estate prices.

Housing activists hope the massive show of force will lead to more regulations to protect tenants and crack down on real estate speculation, while Spain’s left-wing government is seeking to mobilize voters ahead of a national election later this month with polls against it.

The walkout — under the slogan “Salaries. Housing. Prices.” — was the first general strike in Spain in 14 years, and the first whose principal push was born from unrest over housing.