Politics · Spain · 14 hrs ago
Police ask Podemos leader Ione Belarra for ID at strike picket
Police asked Podemos leader Ione Belarra for identification while she was supporting a picket during Spain’s general strike on Wednesday.
Belarra shared a video of the encounter and asked the officer for his badge number.
Irene Montero accused police of using excessive force against pickets at several locations, though the accounts do not independently establish those allegations.
Pickets are groups that inform people about a strike, and Montero said they were acting peacefully and exercising the constitutional right to strike.
The strike was linked to demands for housing rights, higher wages and lower living costs.
Montero also criticised Madrid’s rules on minimum services in education and transport, and said her party was documenting police actions it considers abusive.
She called for alleged police violence to stop and said the party was in contact with the government’s representative in Madrid.
Police asked Podemos leader Ione Belarra to show her identification while she was supporting a strike picket.
Belarra said the police were identifying people for taking part in a general-strike picket and asked the officer for his badge number.
Podemos candidate Irene Montero accused the government of sending police to use force against pickets and carry out unjustified identity checks.
Montero said pickets were peacefully explaining the reasons for the strike and that police action threatened the right to strike.
The reports did not include a response from the government or police.
- Who
- Police asked Podemos leader Ione Belarra for identification. Podemos candidate Irene Montero criticised police actions.
- What
- An officer asked Belarra to show her ID at a strike picket. She asked the officer for his badge number.
- When
- Wednesday, 11 November 2026, during a general strike.
- Where
- At a strike picket; the specific location of Belarra’s encounter is not stated.
- Why
- Belarra said police were identifying people for taking part in a picket. The officer’s reason is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Montero and Belarra visited several informational pickets.
A police officer asked Belarra for identification at a picket, and she asked for his badge number.
Belarra published a video of the encounter on social media.
- Person asked for ID
- Ione Belarra
- Political party
- Podemos
- Date
- 11 November 2026
- Strike
- General strike
- Hospital visited by Montero
- Hospital Gómez Ulla, Madrid
3 sources
Podemos termina su precampaña con cargas contra el PSOE y el Frente Amplio: “Tienen como proyecto que las cosas sigan como están”
Un policía pide identificarse a Ione Belarra en un piquete
Ione Belarra es identificada en un piquete e Irene Montero acusa a Marlaska de enviar a la Policía a dar "palos"
What people are saying
The National Police are identifying us for taking part in a general-strike picket. Do we have to remind the PSOE–Broad Front government that this is how all the rights we have were won?
Informational pickets are part of the right to strike, and what is intolerable is that the government sends the police to hit those pickets, which are peacefully explaining the reasons.
Posts on X
La Policía Nacional nos está identificado por participar en un piquete de la #HuelgaGeneral. ¿Hay que recordarle al Gobierno del PSOE-Frente Amplio que así es como se consiguieron todos los derechos que tenemos?
La violencia policial contra la #HuelgaGeneral es injustificable y está amenazando el ejercicio de derechos. Gracias a la huelga y a los piquetes informativos tenemos los derechos de los que hoy disfrutamos. 🎥 @IreneMontero