SPAIN IS THE NEW GREECE: And This Time It's Big Enough To Matter...
June 2024 · 6 minute read
2012-03-29T14:49:00Z
Spanish trade unions are holding a general strike across the country today to protest new labor reforms, and by all accounts it has been a largely peaceful protest.
While for the most part conditions on the ground are relatively normal, photos from Madrid, Barcelona, and Pamplona indicated that some young protestors are escalating the angst, painting symbols supporting anarchy on walls, and causing small bouts of destruction.
Police officers are seen next to burning trash containers during clashes with demonstrators during the general strike in Barcelona, Thursday, March 29, 2012. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street. AP/Emilio Morenatti
Such events are reminiscent of similar protests in Syntagma Square, Greece, where groups of youthful protestors turned riotous despite generally calm strikes.
Two major points give us particular trepidation: the fact that these and similar protests closely resemble early protests in Greece a few years ago—when almost no one realistically considered the possibility of a Greek debt restructuring—and the sheer scale of Spanish youth unemployment.
As in Greece, young people have been seen as responsible for escalating peaceful political protests to violent riots. Spain's unemployment data suggest that protests there could eventually be much larger—nearly half of young people are already unemployed and they face a tough future and a shrinking social safety net amid economic contraction and austerity measures.
We can't help but ask: Could Spain turn into the next Greece?
A demonstrator tries to stop an urban bus in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, March 29, 2012 during a general strike. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street.AP/Alberto Di LolliA protester is grabbed by police agents after he tried to stop an urban bus in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, March 29, 2012 during a general strike. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street.AP/Alberto Di LolliProtesters prepares to burn tires at the main entrance of Mercabarna, the biggest wholesale market in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 29, 2012. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street.AP/Manu FernandezA protester burns tires at the main entrance of Mercabarna, the biggest wholesale market in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 29, 2012. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street.AP/Manu FernandezTrade union members gather outside the regional Madrid government building in Puerta de Sol in Madrid Wednesday, March 28, 2012. The one-day trade union-sponsored general strike is planned for Thursday to protest austerity measures permitting less costly worker hirings and firings.AP/Pedro Acosta
A demonstrator sprays graffiti on a wall during the general strike in Barcelona, Thursday, March 29, 2012. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street. The Spanish sentence reads: "The laboral reform means slavery".
A demonstrator sprays grafity on a wall during the general strike in Barcelona, Thursday, March 29, 2012. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street. The Spanish sentence reads: "The laboral reform means slavery".AP/Emilio MorenattiA demonstrator kicks the main door of the stock exchange during the general strike in Barcelona, Thursday, March 29, 2012. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street.AP/Emilio MorenattiPeople protest in Madrid Thursday, March 29, 2012 during a general strike. The one-day trade union-sponsored general strike is to protest austerity measures permitting less costly worker hirings and firings.AP/Paul WhiteRiot police officers run during clashes with demonstrators during the general strike in Barcelona, Thursday, March 29, 2012. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street.AP/Emilio MorenattiA protester is grabbed by police agents in Madrid Thursday, March 29, 2012 during a general strike. The one-day trade union-sponsored general strike is to protest austerity measures permitting less costly worker hirings and firings.AP/Andres KudackiProtesters, first, third and fourth left, are grabbed by police agents in civilian clothes in Madrid Thursday, March 29, 2012 during a general strike. The one-day trade union-sponsored general strike is to protest austerity measures permitting less costly worker hirings and firings.AP/Andres KudackiFirefighter extinguish burning trash containers during the general strike in Barcelona, Thursday, March 29, 2012. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street. The spanish sentence reads: "General strike against the capital".AP/Emilio MorenattiPolice officers are seen next to burning trash containers during clashes with demonstrators during the general strike in Barcelona, Thursday, March 29, 2012. Spanish unions angry over economic reforms are waging a general strike, challenging a conservative government not yet 100 days old and joining other troubled European workers in venting their frustration on the street.AP/Emilio Morenatti
But then again, all these images may not tell the full story.
Drops in energy consumption during today's strike (red) versus earlier strikes.Politicon.es via @efnbsbun
These charts indicate that the scale of the protest is really not so large, even in comparison to previous strikes. Drops in energy consumption—today 14.4%—are generally seen seen as indicators of participation levels.
Some sources in Spain told us that they found the situation in the streets normal, save for significant work stoppage.