Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez set a snap general election for 29 November after parliament rejected two housing decrees and protests followed an eviction in Madrid.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a general election for 29 November after his government lost two parliamentary votes on housing measures. The BBC reported that he made the announcement in a televised address on Monday and said the government needed to renew and broaden public support. A regular election had not been due until the summer of 2027.
Parliament rejected two decree laws on Friday that were meant to protect tenants. The BBC said the package included a suspension of evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030, a two-year extension of some rental leases, higher taxes on tourist apartments, and limits on purchases by funds the government described as vulture funds.
The political break followed protests sparked by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from a Madrid apartment she had lived in since 1956, Politico reported. CNN said hundreds of people had camped in Puerta del Sol. Sanchez told the country there were still many injustices to correct and that he had made mistakes.
CNN reported the speech was delivered from the Palace of Moncloa. Politico said polls it cited put the centre-right People's Party near 34 percent and the Socialists near 26 percent, so the early vote is not an assured recovery for the incumbent.
Sanchez has been prime minister since June 2018. The next verified step is the 29 November ballot. No official campaign calendar beyond that date was set out in the Monday reports.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Sanchez said the time had come for Spaniards to decide the country's future
- He said the government needed to renew and broaden support for housing reforms
- CNN reported protesters had camped in Madrid's Puerta del Sol