Where is Spain headed after the snap election announcement?
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is taking a gamble by calling an early election in Spain. The housing crisis, migration and the rise of the right-wing populist Vox party are all likely to dominate the campaign.
Spain's political landscape is in flux following Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's decision to call an early election for November 29. The snap poll follows a politically charged atmosphere, marked by the government's failure to pass emergency measures to tackle the housing crisis and a series of corruption scandals. The Conservatives, who have supported the government since 2023, defied the government on housing policy, leaving Sanchez without crucial support.
The housing shortage, estimated at around 750,000 homes, has been a major concern for Spaniards for years. The Bank of Spain predicts the shortage could exceed one million homes by 2028. Property prices have risen three times faster than wages, and social housing comprises only 1.7% of the housing stock. Despite this, the Tenants' movement has criticized Sanchez's plans as insufficient.
The snap election comes at a time of heightened migration, with over 70,000 Moroccans crossing into Ceuta in a short period. Human rights organizations have condemned the government's stricter migration policies, including accelerated asylum procedures and deportations. Meanwhile, Spain's conservative People's Party (PP) appears to be the frontrunner for the snap election, while the right-wing populist Vox party has surged in popularity, potentially bolstering PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo's chances of forming a governing majority with right-of-center parties.
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