The president of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), Antonio Garamendi, reiterated this Monday that he will present a legal challenge against the general strike called for next November 11, understanding that it has a marked "electoral" character and that it has been wrapped in labor demands in order to grant it a legal cover that, in his opinion, it lacks.
"We have upcoming general elections, but however, for the first time in the history of Spain, we have an electoral strike. No, sorry, I think it is general. I don't know if it is general or not, but electoral, for sure," the business leader stated during the closing of the XXV ATA Awards 2026, ironizing about the nature of the call.
The top official of the employers' association criticized that this "is not the way" and has dissociated employers and self-employed workers from the main difficulties currently facing the country, such as access to housing or the increase in the cost of living. "Is it that companies and self-employed workers are to blame for the lack of housing in Spain? We have the inflation problem: Are we the entrepreneurs responsible for this?" he raised before the attendees.
In this context, Garamendi insisted that the CEOE will take the strike to court, considering that it "has been infused with labor issues to try to make it legal." "We consider that it is not," he emphasized, also demanding that the right of those who wish to go to their workplaces be respected and that "the streets are not set on fire" during the strike day.
"I am worried about Spain"
"I am worried about my country. I am worried about Spain. And why am I worried? Well, I am worried because I believe that we are or it seems that we are heading towards a drift that is not ours," the president of the CEOE expressed at the closing of the event, showing concern for the political and social direction.
Garamendi defended the need to open spaces for real dialogue, with the willingness to contribute and to promote the growth of companies, employment, wealth, and, in short, the whole country. "We are going to be with that democratic Spain, we feel very much like children of democracy and not grandchildren of war. And we are going to continue working for that Spain of the transition, for that constitutional Spain that has brought us the best years," he affirmed.
At the end of his intervention, he also wanted to send a message of support to Ceuta, denouncing the lack of visibility of the autonomous city in the capital. As he pointed out, "he has not seen a Ceuta flag" in Madrid yet. "I see flags of all colors, none from Ceuta," he reproached.