Spain’s Sanchez calls November 29 snap election after housing measures rejected

Madrid, Spain. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday called an early election for November 29, seeking to strengthen his mandate after a fragmented parliament rejected the government’s key housing decrees last week amid widespread protests.

Sanchez seeks a larger parliamentary majority

“We need to renew people’s support,” Sanchez said in a televised address. “We need to mobilise and win a much larger progressive majority in parliament, one that will allow us to overcome vested interests, deliver new social advances and continue transforming Spain.”

The prime minister acknowledged making mistakes and falling short of campaign promises. “I also know that part of that social majority is dissatisfied today,” he said, while pledging to fight for Spain to remain “a bastion of openness, social justice and environmental responsibility”.

The election represents a significant political risk for Sanchez, whose Socialist Party trails in nearly every opinion poll. He has, however, repeatedly defied expectations that his political career was nearing its end.

An electoral defeat would end one of Europe’s few remaining left-leaning governments, as far-right parties make unprecedented gains across the region and a growing share of European voters move away from the political centre.

Housing vote follows domestic setbacks

Sanchez has gained international prominence through his positions on progressive issues, including support for Palestinian statehood, the defence of multilateral institutions and efforts to curb the power of “tech oligarchs”. At home, a series of setbacks and scandals has weakened his position.

Recent proposals to address Spain’s mounting housing crisis were well received and had bolstered his standing. However, right-wing lawmakers rejected the measures on Friday, prompting large protests by housing activists across the country.

Opposition welcomes election announcement

The main opposition People’s Party (PP) posted “AT LAST” on X following the announcement. Its leader, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, was scheduled to hold a news conference later on Monday.

The conservatives have called on Sanchez to dissolve parliament and hold early elections for most of the current legislature.

Polls indicate that a coalition led by PP with support from Vox is the most likely outcome. Such a result would bring a far-right party into Spain’s central government for the first time since democracy returned after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

Markets broadly unchanged

Spain’s blue-chip index, .IBEX, was flat after the announcement, while Spanish government bonds were broadly steady.