Spain's Sanchez calls snap election for November 29 after housing crisis protests

Sanchez said on Monday that the vote would take place on November 29, bringing forward an election that had been due next year. In a televised address, he said: "We need to renew people's support," and called for a larger progressive majority to "overcome vested interests, deliver new social advances and continue transforming Spain." He acknowledged having made mistakes and falling short of previous campaign promises.

The decision follows the defeat of his minority government's housing decrees in parliament on Friday, which triggered large-scale protests across Spain. The government reported that more than 70,000 people demonstrated in Madrid on Saturday. Anger had been building since the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Marai del Carmen Abascal, from her Madrid home of 70 years after an international investment fund bought her building and raised the rent.

Sanchez has served as prime minister since June 2018 and currently leads a fragile minority left-wing coalition formed in November 2023. His lack of a parliamentary majority has made it difficult to pass major reforms. Public discontent over the cost of living, wage stagnation and a shortage of affordable housing has simmered for years, despite Spain's strong post-pandemic economic growth.

Immigration is also a growing political flashpoint, with the government still dealing with the aftermath of tens of thousands of migrants arriving in the North African enclave of Ceuta in July.

Opinion polls suggest a coalition led by the conservative People's Party, supported by the far-right Vox party, is the most likely outcome. If they win, it would mark the first time since the death of dictator Francisco Franco that a far-right party has entered central government and would end one of Europe's last left-leaning governments.

Analysis

Why This Matters

A snap election in Spain could bring a far-right party into national government for the first time since Franco, reflecting a broader rightward shift across Europe.
The housing crisis and mass protests highlight a structural affordability problem that affects millions, especially in tourist-heavy areas.
The outcome will determine whether Sanchez's coalition government can survive or whether Spain joins a growing list of European countries with right-wing governments.

Background

Spain's housing crisis has been building for years, driven by tourism-driven rent inflation, a shortage of affordable housing, and the impact of foreign investment funds buying residential properties. Sanchez's minority government has struggled to pass reforms due to a fragmented parliament. The snap election marks a risky gamble for Sanchez, who has never won an outright majority but has pieced together coalitions from the far left to separatist right to stay in power for three successive terms.

Key Perspectives

Pedro Sanchez and his coalition: They argue that a stronger progressive majority is needed to pass social reforms and housing protections, and that the opposition's rejection of relief measures ignores public suffering. Conservative People's Party and Vox: They see an opportunity to capitalise on public discontent over housing, immigration and economic pressures, positioning themselves as a law-and-order alternative. Critics/Sceptics: Some voters and analysts question whether a snap election will resolve the housing crisis, given deep political divisions. A PP-Vox government would represent a sharp shift away from Sanchez's progressive agenda on Palestinian rights, multilateral institutions and tech regulation.

What to Watch

Opinion polls in the weeks leading up to November 29 to gauge the strength of the PP-Vox coalition.
Whether housing protests escalate into a general strike or broader civil unrest before the vote.
The European Union's reaction to a potential far-right entry into the Spanish government.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Background

Key Perspectives

What to Watch

Sources