Spanish PM Sánchez calls snap election after mounting housing crisis

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Monday that he is calling for an early election on November 29. Sanchez has been known as a strong advocate for progressive causes, such as Palestinian statehood, defending international organizations, and cracking down on tech giants, despite facing setbacks and scandals at home.

His Socialist Party is currently trailing in opinion polls, making the snap election a risky move. However, Sanchez has received support from proposals aimed at addressing the growing housing crisis, although these were rejected by right-wing MPs, leading to planned protests.

An election loss would mark the end of one of Europe's last remaining left-leaning governments, as the far-right is rapidly gaining ground across the region. Polls suggest that a conservative-led coalition with the support of Vox is the most likely outcome, allowing a far-right party to enter central government for the first time since the establishment of democracy after Francisco Franco's death.

Despite never securing enough votes to form a majority government, Sanchez has managed to create various coalitions, including those with far-left and separatist-right parties, to stay in power for three consecutive eight-year terms. However, growing tensions among his partners have resulted in minimal legislative progress and a failed budget since 2023, while Spain's economy remains one of the strongest in developed countries.

Sanchez took office after leading the ousting of center-right Mariano Rajoy following corruption scandals within the People's Party. However, some of Sanchez's own party members have faced allegations of corruption, contributing to the party's low approval ratings. He won a second term in 2023 after negotiating support from an alliance of parties, a deal that involved an amnesty for Catalan independence leaders, which remains a controversial and divisive issue among voters.

In his early political career, Sanchez gained attention for moves such as exhuming Franco's remains from his mausoleum outside Madrid and reforming a labor law that has seen unemployment drop to its lowest level in nearly two decades. He also showcased his humanitarian and pro-immigration stance by accepting the Aquarius migrant rescue ship and its 629 passengers in June 2018, despite Italy and Malta's refusal to allow the ship to dock.

As European countries have become stricter with immigration policies, Sanchez has consistently argued that immigration is crucial for Spain's economic growth, particularly in sectors like construction, agriculture, and hospitality.