Millions join Spain’s first general strike in 14 years in protest at rising housing costs

The 24-hour stoppage has drawn high participation across sectors and comes weeks before election in which far right could gain power

Millions of people across Spain have joined the country’s first general strike in 14 years, setting up picket lines to protest against soaring housing prices before an election in which the far right could be catapulted into power.

At the centre of Wednesday’s nationwide 24-hour stoppage, singularly backed by the country’s largest unions as well as tenants’ associations, is a pushback against Spain’s deepening housing crisis.