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Spanish police arrested three members of a far-right group and fired rubber bullets in Madrid on Saturday evening, after tens of thousands marched across the country demanding action to address the housing crisis.
The Spanish government said activists from the far-right, some of whom gave Nazi salutes, tried to reach protesters who had camped in Puerta del Sol Square in central Madrid to protest the housing crisis.
Some demonstrators held signs calling for a general strike after the parliament on Friday rejected measures aimed at addressing the public anger caused by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid and other housing sector issues.
Nando de Anguolo, 26, who participated in the protest in Madrid today, said, "It's unfortunate. This only proves that we, the people, have to adapt to political parties, not politicians to what the people want, and the situation cannot continue like this."
Spanish media reported that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez may call early elections in November after the legislation was not approved, and that he will monitor the size of today's protests before making any decision.
Sánchez's office declined to comment on these reports.
In the city of Valencia, located in southeastern Spain, protesters clashed with police who fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protests.
About 30 protesters entered the City of Arts and Sciences building, one of Valencia's prominent cultural landmarks, before the police managed to remove them. Other protests in 50 Spanish cities were peaceful.
Valeria Rako, a spokesperson for the Tenants' Union, told journalists in Madrid that a general strike will be called after talks with labor unions.
The Spanish government said that nearly 70,000 people participated in today's protest in Madrid.
Protests scheduled in Barcelona and the neighboring city of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat were canceled due to heavy rain.
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