Spain's Sánchez calls snap election for 29 November after housing defeat

Pedro Sánchez, Spain's Prime Minister, announced on Friday that he will hold a snap general election on November 29th, following the rejection of two housing decrees by Congress. Despite last-minute efforts to secure support, both decrees were voted down in the lower house of Parliament. Following the defeat, Sánchez sought counsel from his ministers and party officials over the weekend to decide whether to continue the parliamentary term or call for an early election.

The announcement comes after a tumultuous few months for Sánchez's coalition government, which has struggled to maintain support in Congress, faced corruption allegations involving close associates, and dealt with a severe migration crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. The Ceuta situation, which saw thousands of migrants cross the border from Morocco in late July, prompted the government to declare a national security interest for the first time in Spain's democratic era.

This move has intensified political tensions, with the opposition accusing the government of reacting too slowly and questioning its policies towards Morocco. Additionally, several corruption cases and legal proceedings have emerged involving individuals connected to Sánchez's political circle, further eroding the government's majority in Congress.