On Thursday, the Spanish left demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, following police actions during the general strike on November 11—the first such nationwide work stoppage in Spain in 14 years. Podemos and Compromís held the government responsible for police charges against individuals participating in demonstrations and picket lines.
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Spain Strike Puts Housing Crisis and Public Services in Focus
Ione Belarra, spokesperson for Podemos in the Congress of Deputies, stated in the chamber that the day’s events resulted in head injuries, broken ribs, sexual assaults, 50 arrests, and the mass identification of individuals participating in peaceful protests. “People who were already on the ground—defenseless—were struck with batons, and pepper spray was used,” she reported.
Belarra linked these incidents to the restriction of fundamental rights. “Preventing the legitimate right to strike, obstructing the work of the press… This has a name: police brutality, police abuse. Accountability must be taken through the resignation of Marlaska,” she declared.
Demand directed at Pedro Sánchez
Irene Montero, the Podemos candidate for the November 29 elections, expressed her profound concern regarding police violence against picket lines and described the general strike as a success. During a rally protesting the closure of the pediatric emergency department at the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital in Madrid, she called on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to remove Grande-Marlaska from the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) electoral lists.
Millions struck across Spain over soaring rents—and lawmakers just responded.
Spain’s interim parliament ratified new measures on Thursday to limit evictions and real estate speculation after massive street protests filled Madrid and Barcelona.Whether those rules stick around… pic.twitter.com/7Qc0wW8F2o
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) November 12, 2026
“They are putting the people on those picket lines—who are exercising their right to strike—at risk. They are also putting a constitutional right—the right to strike—at risk,” Montero asserted. “The police action was unjustified and absolutely disproportionate,” stated the Podemos leader, pointing to the use of pepper spray, baton strikes, and clearly intimidating behavior.
“It is intolerable for the Government to send the police to beat people—including those on picket lines who are peacefully explaining the reasons for the strike,” added Montero.
Meanwhile, Compromís spokesperson Alberto Ibáñez agreed that the Minister of the Interior should step down. In an interview with Radio Nacional de España (RNE), Ibáñez argued that the disproportionate police response seen throughout the day was not an isolated incident.
According to the Valencian leader, either the Socialist Party does not have control over the state security forces, or—if it does—it is exercising its power in an intolerably abusive manner.
Strike Overview
Protesters took to the streets across Spain on Wednesday during a nationwide general strike under the slogan “Salaries, Housing, Prices,” demanding higher wages, affordable housing and measures to ease the rising cost of living. #strike #Spain pic.twitter.com/qVxLGqIdX6
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 12, 2026
According to figures compiled by Antena 3, the general strike on November 11 resulted in over 50 arrests and nearly 1,500 police-related incidents. The day was marked by demonstrations, picket lines, and interventions by security forces in various cities across the country.
Montero also criticized the Popular Party (PP) and Vox for opposing the work stoppages. She labeled them the “parties of the 1%”—defenders of those amassing fortunes at the expense of the general public, the parties of speculators and supermarket chains that are raking in huge profits. “They want the majority to live poorly so that this 1% can continue to line their own pockets,” she declared.
The resignation of Fernando Grande-Marlaska has thus become the primary political demand of both Podemos and Compromís, as the government of Pedro Sánchez faces scrutiny over its police handling of a general strike that sought to uphold the constitutional right to strike and the freedom of information.
#Spain | Thousands protested in Madrid against soaring rents, housing speculation and the displacement of working-class families.
Demonstrators demanded rent controls and housing as a fundamental right, not a luxury.#HousingCrisis #Madrid #HousingRights #teleSUREnglish pic.twitter.com/VaMTQuGzbb— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) November 11, 2026
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