Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called a snap election for 29 November after two emergency housing laws were rebuffed by a minority parliament, igniting nationwide protests.
The failure came after the eviction of 87‑year‑old Maricarmen Abascal, who was forced out after an illegal rent jump from 500 to 2,650 euros – a move met with fury in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona.
In his Monday address, Sánchez warned that the current government could not move reforms forward without a “broader progressive majority” to beat the elite’s opposition. He cited multiple corruption scandals, cost‑of‑living worries and a recent migration incident in Ceuta as further strains on his coalition.
The ruling Socialist party and junior ally Sumar lack a parliamentary majority, and polls suggest the opposition People’s Party may head the next vote, sparking speculation that it would need support from far‑right Vox to form a government.
The election, originally not due until the summer of 2027, follows a turbulent spring marked by scandals involving the prime minister’s wife, a raid on the party’s headquarters, and the conviction of a former transport minister for Covid‑19 kickbacks.
