Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced plans for early parliamentary elections. The vote is scheduled to take place on November 29.
Sánchez made the announcement after a series of political setbacks in Parliament, according to ABC News. Parliament rejected two emergency housing decrees aimed at protecting vulnerable tenants and limiting pressure from short-term rentals and speculation.
The measures were part of a broader effort to address the country’s housing crisis.
Sánchez said the political deadlock had reached a point where voters must decide the nation's direction. He emphasized that the Spanish people should have the final say in shaping their future.
Sánchez has been leading a coalition minority government since 2023. His Socialist party has been in partnership with the left-wing group Sumar.
The prime minister’s leadership has also been affected by ongoing legal issues involving his party and family members. His wife Begoña Gómez is due to stand trial on corruption charges and denies wrongdoing.
His brother David Sánchez was convicted in July of administrative misconduct linked to a public appointment and was barred from public office for nine years. Pedro Sánchez has not been charged in those cases.
The housing crisis in Spain has been a major concern for many citizens and political leaders alike, according to a report from Sky News. Protests intensified after the eviction of an 87-year-old Madrid woman whose rent had risen sharply.
The government had proposed steps to reduce evictions and limit speculation in the real estate market.
The measures were opposed by the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox party as well as the Catalan separatist party Junts. Opponents argued that some of the proposals could reduce housing supply or create more uncertainty for landlords.
Sánchez’s decision to call early elections signals a major shift in Spanish politics. It comes more than six months before the current parliamentary term was due to end.
The upcoming vote will be closely watched both domestically and internationally. The election will determine the makeup of Spain's next parliament and who has a path to forming a government.
Sánchez said he wants a larger progressive majority that can pass housing and other reforms. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo and his People's Party are campaigning on a different housing and tax agenda.
The government has faced mounting pressure to act on housing issues. Sánchez’s call for elections reflects his belief that the public must decide on a new direction. He has now placed the responsibility for Spain’s future in the hands of voters.