Spanish PM Sánchez calls early election after housing protests

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Monday that early elections will be held on November 29th. This move comes in response to recent legislative defeats aimed at addressing the country's housing crisis, with parliament rejecting two decree laws proposed by the minority government to protect tenants in the rental market.

The eviction of an elderly woman from her home due to a sharp rent increase sparked widespread protests and heightened pressure for housing reform. Sánchez addressed the nation via television, stating that he needs a "broader progressive majority" to push for these reforms and overcome "the resistance of the elites." The issue of housing is not the only challenge facing Sánchez's leadership; his party has been embroiled in corruption scandals, facing pressure over cost-of-living concerns and immigration.

Sánchez acknowledged past mistakes and the need to tackle problems related to inequality, public services, and housing access. His left-wing coalition government, composed of the Socialist party and the Sumar alliance, does not hold a parliamentary majority. Spain is not set to hold a general election until 2027, but Sánchez has been in office since June 2018, leading the Socialist party, which finished second in the last election in 2023.

While the conservative People's Party secured the most seats, it did not achieve a majority and would likely require support from the right-wing Vox party to form a government.