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| Eurozone crisis live: Spanish general strike kicks off | Eurozone crisis live: Spanish general strike kicks off |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 9.49am: Spain's transport network has been badly hit by today's strike. | |
| Spanish airline Iberia (which merged with British Airways in 2010), says it has cancelled more than 400 flights. Another 44 Ryanair flights have been grounded, while easyJet cancelled 28 flights. | |
| Ahead of today's action, transport employees had agreed to offer a minimum level of service. That meant that around 25% of buses and a third of train services were expected to operate. | |
| 9.37am: The two main unions, Comisiones Obreras and UGT, have announced that the general strike had "practically paralysed" factories during the night shift. They also claimed that 85% of workers in the food sector were also taking part (but, as we reported at 8.36am, we won't know the full story for some time). | |
| 9.20am: And here's a less peaceful photo, showing a man bleeding while taking part in this morning's protests in Madrid. | 9.20am: And here's a less peaceful photo, showing a man bleeding while taking part in this morning's protests in Madrid. |
| According to the photographer who took the photo, the man had been hit in the face by police. | According to the photographer who took the photo, the man had been hit in the face by police. |
| 9.11am: Back to Spain, and there have been peaceful protests this morning outside the Gregorio Maranon Hospital in Madrid. | 9.11am: Back to Spain, and there have been peaceful protests this morning outside the Gregorio Maranon Hospital in Madrid. |
| Sony Kapoor of the Redefine think tank argued that the rarity of today's general strike (the first since September 2010) shows that the 'social fabric' of Spain has held up well since the financial crisis began. | Sony Kapoor of the Redefine think tank argued that the rarity of today's general strike (the first since September 2010) shows that the 'social fabric' of Spain has held up well since the financial crisis began. |
| The rare #Spanish general strike today only goes 2 show how well the social fabric has held fast so far. Will it last as unemployment rises? | The rare #Spanish general strike today only goes 2 show how well the social fabric has held fast so far. Will it last as unemployment rises? |
| — Sony Kapoor (@SonyKapoor) March 29, 2012 | — Sony Kapoor (@SonyKapoor) March 29, 2012 |
| 9.00am: Looking away from Spain briefly, Geman unemployment has fallen again, as the eurozone's largest economy continues to shrug off the debt crisis. | 9.00am: Looking away from Spain briefly, Geman unemployment has fallen again, as the eurozone's largest economy continues to shrug off the debt crisis. |
| On a seasonally adjusted basis, the number of people out of work in Germany fell by 18,000 in March to 2.841m. That takes the country's unemployment rate down to 6.7%. | On a seasonally adjusted basis, the number of people out of work in Germany fell by 18,000 in March to 2.841m. That takes the country's unemployment rate down to 6.7%. |
| 8.36am: Giles Tremlett, our correspondent in Madrid, tells me that it is impossible to say at this stage how 'successful' the Spanish general strike is. But two key indicators suggest there is more support than at a similar event 18 months ago. | 8.36am: Giles Tremlett, our correspondent in Madrid, tells me that it is impossible to say at this stage how 'successful' the Spanish general strike is. But two key indicators suggest there is more support than at a similar event 18 months ago. |
| Giles writes: | Giles writes: |
The first is that electricity consumption is down by more than 20% – proof that things are slowing down around the country. | The first is that electricity consumption is down by more than 20% – proof that things are slowing down around the country. |
| The other is that unions say more people have stopped work this morning than in September 2010, when the socialist administration of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero had to cope with a similar strike. | The other is that unions say more people have stopped work this morning than in September 2010, when the socialist administration of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero had to cope with a similar strike. |
| Zapatero himself considered that strike a crucial moment in the dramatic fall in popular support for his socialists, who were ousted at a general election a year later. | Zapatero himself considered that strike a crucial moment in the dramatic fall in popular support for his socialists, who were ousted at a general election a year later. |
| Given that regional elections in southern Andalucia at the weekend saw a fall in votes for current prime minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative People's party (PP), it is safe to say that we have reached a turning point in support for the government as it celebrates 100 days in power. | Given that regional elections in southern Andalucia at the weekend saw a fall in votes for current prime minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative People's party (PP), it is safe to say that we have reached a turning point in support for the government as it celebrates 100 days in power. |
| Tomorrow's budget, expected to be one of the fiercest seen in austerity Europe, will mark the end of his toughest week in power. | Tomorrow's budget, expected to be one of the fiercest seen in austerity Europe, will mark the end of his toughest week in power. |
| 8.31am: El Pais also reports that Esperanza Aguirre, Spain minister for education and culture, has denounced attempts on social networks to create public disorder today [a comment which reminds us of last summer's riots in the UK] | 8.31am: El Pais also reports that Esperanza Aguirre, Spain minister for education and culture, has denounced attempts on social networks to create public disorder today [a comment which reminds us of last summer's riots in the UK] |
| Update: we're still trying to get a full report of Aguirre's comments... | |
| 8.21am: According to El Pais, there have been 58 arrests so far in Spain, with seven policeman injured (my colleague James Gard reports). | 8.21am: According to El Pais, there have been 58 arrests so far in Spain, with seven policeman injured (my colleague James Gard reports). |
| Electricity demand is reportedly down a quarter on a normal working day. Nissan and Seat car factories in Catalonia are locked down. Student protestors have blocked one of the main roads into Madrid, the A6, causing a big traffic jam (click on the link below to see). | Electricity demand is reportedly down a quarter on a normal working day. Nissan and Seat car factories in Catalonia are locked down. Student protestors have blocked one of the main roads into Madrid, the A6, causing a big traffic jam (click on the link below to see). |
| Así está la entrada a Madrid por la A-6. Los estudiantes han bloqueado el acceso a Moncloa. #yohagohuelga twitpic.com/92pwge | Así está la entrada a Madrid por la A-6. Los estudiantes han bloqueado el acceso a Moncloa. #yohagohuelga twitpic.com/92pwge |
| — Comisiones Obreras (@ccoo) March 29, 2012 | — Comisiones Obreras (@ccoo) March 29, 2012 |
| 8.15am: The Spanish general strike comes just a day before prime minister Mariano Rajoy announces a new austerity budget. | 8.15am: The Spanish general strike comes just a day before prime minister Mariano Rajoy announces a new austerity budget. |
| As my colleague Giles Tremlett reported a few days ago, Rajoy must announce up to up to €40bn (£33.45bn) of spending cuts and taxes, three months after his victory in a general election last November. | As my colleague Giles Tremlett reported a few days ago, Rajoy must announce up to up to €40bn (£33.45bn) of spending cuts and taxes, three months after his victory in a general election last November. |
| Rajoy has also angered labour groups by introducing new legislation that makes it easier for companies to lay people off, cut wages and modify other employment conditions. This has led unions to predict enthusiastic support for today's action. | Rajoy has also angered labour groups by introducing new legislation that makes it easier for companies to lay people off, cut wages and modify other employment conditions. This has led unions to predict enthusiastic support for today's action. |
| Ignacio Fernandez Toxo, head of the CCOO union, declared: | Ignacio Fernandez Toxo, head of the CCOO union, declared: |
| The people will say whether they are resigned to accepting the reforms. | The people will say whether they are resigned to accepting the reforms. |
| Finance minister Cristobal Montoro, though, insists the Spanish government will not be forced into changing its plans. Montoro said: | Finance minister Cristobal Montoro, though, insists the Spanish government will not be forced into changing its plans. Montoro said: |
| The question here is not whether the strike is honoured by many or few but rather whether we get out of the crisis. | The question here is not whether the strike is honoured by many or few but rather whether we get out of the crisis. |
| More details here. | More details here. |
| 7.57am: And in Valencia (as in Malaga, see 7.56am) strikers also blocked the entrance to the main wholesale market (called Mercavalencia). | 7.57am: And in Valencia (as in Malaga, see 7.56am) strikers also blocked the entrance to the main wholesale market (called Mercavalencia). |
| According to local reports, hundreds of members of the UGC, CCOO and CGT labor unions, blocked the entrance, and managed to prevent trucks entering the site. | According to local reports, hundreds of members of the UGC, CCOO and CGT labor unions, blocked the entrance, and managed to prevent trucks entering the site. |
| 7.56am: In Malaga, union members picketed outside the entrance to the city's main food warehouse, called "MercaMalaga". | 7.56am: In Malaga, union members picketed outside the entrance to the city's main food warehouse, called "MercaMalaga". |
| 7.48am: Here's another picture from outside Madrid's urban bus depot: | 7.48am: Here's another picture from outside Madrid's urban bus depot: |
| It was taken before dawn today, and shows a demonstrator shouting a slogan while a policeman stands by. | It was taken before dawn today, and shows a demonstrator shouting a slogan while a policeman stands by. |
| 7.46am: In Madrid, several people have been detained by police in riot gear, after demonstrators tried to stop an urban bus leaving for work. | 7.46am: In Madrid, several people have been detained by police in riot gear, after demonstrators tried to stop an urban bus leaving for work. |
| Here's a picture from the scene. | Here's a picture from the scene. |
| 7.41am: Here's today's agenda: | 7.41am: Here's today's agenda: |
| • General strike in Spain: all day • Informal talks in Copenhagen ahead of Friday's EU finance ministers meeting: all day • German unemployment data for March: 8.55am BST / 9.55am CET • UK mortgage approvals/consumer credit data for February: 9.30am GMT • Eurozone consumer/industrial/business/services confidence: 10am BST / 11am CET • US GDP for Q4 2011: 1.30pm BST / 8.30am EST | • General strike in Spain: all day • Informal talks in Copenhagen ahead of Friday's EU finance ministers meeting: all day • German unemployment data for March: 8.55am BST / 9.55am CET • UK mortgage approvals/consumer credit data for February: 9.30am GMT • Eurozone consumer/industrial/business/services confidence: 10am BST / 11am CET • US GDP for Q4 2011: 1.30pm BST / 8.30am EST |
| 7.35am: Good morning, and welcome to another day of rolling coverage of the eurozone debt crisis. | 7.35am: Good morning, and welcome to another day of rolling coverage of the eurozone debt crisis. |
| Today the focus is on Spain, where a general strike has begun. Unions have called the industrial action in protest against the economic reforms, and austerity measures, being introduced by its new centre-right government. | Today the focus is on Spain, where a general strike has begun. Unions have called the industrial action in protest against the economic reforms, and austerity measures, being introduced by its new centre-right government. |
| The general strike is seen as a big test for prime minister Mariano Rajoy. Three months after sweeping to power, does he still command the support of the public? | The general strike is seen as a big test for prime minister Mariano Rajoy. Three months after sweeping to power, does he still command the support of the public? |
| There have already been clashes between demonstrators and police in Madrid and Malaga. There's likely to be disruption throughout the day, with marches taking place this evening. | There have already been clashes between demonstrators and police in Madrid and Malaga. There's likely to be disruption throughout the day, with marches taking place this evening. |
| The strike comes as EU finance ministers and officials head to Copenhagen for the start of crunch talks over the eurozone crisis, and the issue of the European firewall. | The strike comes as EU finance ministers and officials head to Copenhagen for the start of crunch talks over the eurozone crisis, and the issue of the European firewall. |
| On the economic front, we have German unemployment and eurozone consumer confidence coming up, plus a new estimate for US GDP for the final three months of 2011. Busy day ahead.... | On the economic front, we have German unemployment and eurozone consumer confidence coming up, plus a new estimate for US GDP for the final three months of 2011. Busy day ahead.... |