Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called a snap general election for 29 November 2026 after his government’s housing legislation was rejected by parliament.
The Socialist Party leader, who has been in office since 2018, is seeking a new mandate as housing affordability becomes a central political issue. Recent protests over rising rents and limited access to affordable homes have increased pressure on the government, highlighting growing public frustration over Spain’s housing situation.
The issue gained further attention following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid after she was unable to afford a rent increase, becoming a symbol of wider concerns over housing insecurity.
In an address to the nation on Monday (5 October), Sánchez said voters must decide “whether you wish to join the far-right wave that rolls back progress wherever it governs, or whether you want Spain to remain a bastion of openness, social justice and environmental responsibility.”
In contrast, opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the People’s Party (PP) criticised the government’s record, accusing it of damaging public trust and institutions. “We have suffered from [Sánchez’s] unscrupulous politics and boundless ambition for power,” Feijóo said.
The election is expected to become a wider contest over Spain’s political direction, with the Socialist Party seeking to defend its record on social policies while the PP and other opposition parties aim to capitalise on concerns over housing, governance and migration management, including pressures seen in Ceuta.
The outcome could influence Spain’s future direction amid wider European debates over affordability, public services and the rise of right-wing parties.
ℹ️ Reuters via The Guardian, Financial Times
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