Spanish PM Sánchez calls snap November election amid growing housing protests and political defeats

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced a snap general election for November 29, 2026, following legislative defeats and mounting public discontent over Spain's housing crisis. The decision came after his minority government's emergency measures, designed to address soaring housing costs and tenant protections, were rejected in parliament on October 2, 2026. The proposed decrees were voted down by right-wing opposition parties, including the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox, alongside the Catalan pro-independence party Junts, underscoring Sánchez's struggle to maintain a stable parliamentary majority.

The call for an early election, originally slated for mid-2027, is largely a response to widespread housing protests that have intensified across Spain. Public outrage escalated after the recent eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, a case that galvanized demonstrations demanding government action on affordable housing. Protesters have taken to the streets in numerous cities, highlighting the critical issue of housing affordability in the country.

Sánchez framed the snap election as an opportunity to secure a stronger progressive mandate to overcome political resistance and implement necessary reforms. However, opinion polls suggest that the upcoming vote carries significant political risk for the Socialist leader, with predictions indicating a potential shift towards a conservative coalition, possibly involving the far-right Vox party, which would mark a notable change in Spain's political landscape.