Spain's prime minister set an early election for 29 November after parliament rejected housing decrees. He said he needs a broader progressive majority to pass reforms.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called an early general election for 29 November after his minority government lost two parliamentary votes on housing measures.
Speculation had built over the weekend after parliament rejected two decree laws meant to protect tenants in the rental market. The BBC reported that the eviction of an 87-year-old woman who could not afford a sharp rent rise had sparked nationwide protests and added pressure for housing reform.
In a televised address on Monday, Sanchez said he needed a broader progressive majority that can overcome the resistance of the elites if reforms are to pass. Bloomberg quoted him saying it was time for the Spanish people to decide which future they want for themselves and the country.
Housing is not the only strain on his leadership. The BBC noted corruption cases around his party and pressure on the cost of living and immigration. Spain was not due to hold a general election until the summer of 2027 at the latest. Sanchez has been prime minister since June 2018, and his Socialists finished second in the 2023 election.
The vote will test whether the housing protests translate into a mandate for the government's tenant measures or into a change of government.