Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday announced that Spain will hold an early general election on November 29, bringing forward the country’s next national vote amid growing political pressure over the housing crisis and the government’s struggle to secure parliamentary support for its proposed reforms.
Speaking from his official residence in Madrid, Sánchez said he would convene his Cabinet later in the day to begin the formal process of calling the election.
The announcement followed the government’s defeat in parliament last Friday, when lawmakers rejected two housing-related decrees introduced in response to growing public anger over housing affordability, evictions and access to secure accommodation.
Sánchez acknowledged that his government had made mistakes and had not succeeded in accomplishing everything it had set out to do. However, he argued that the administration needed a stronger parliamentary majority to continue implementing its political programme and addressing the challenges facing the country.
The prime minister identified housing, inequality and the provision of public services as among Spain’s major challenges. He appealed to voters for renewed support, saying a stronger mandate would enable his government to continue its programme of reforms.
The political crisis intensified after two housing decrees were defeated in parliament. The measures had been drafted following protests triggered by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her home in Madrid.
The case became a symbol of Spain’s wider housing difficulties, with activists and opposition groups demanding stronger government action to protect vulnerable tenants and improve access to affordable housing.
In parliament, the Catalan separatist party Junts joined the conservative Popular Party (PP) and the far-right Vox in voting against both government measures. The defeat came despite negotiations between the government and political groups over provisions contained in the proposed decrees.
The parliamentary setback was followed by renewed demonstrations across Spain. Thousands of people took to the streets during the weekend to demand urgent action over rising housing costs and limited access to affordable homes.
In Madrid, protesters continued occupying areas of Puerta del Sol, one of the capital’s most prominent public squares, as pressure mounted on the government.
Sánchez presented the forthcoming election as a major choice over Spain’s political direction. He portrayed his progressive coalition as a force for continued social and economic reforms, while warning that a shift toward the far right could threaten rights and reverse policies introduced by his administration.
He urged voters to give Spain a broader progressive majority, arguing that the country should maintain its reputation for openness, social justice and tolerance.
Defending his government's record, Sánchez highlighted what he described as significant achievements during his time in office. These included economic growth, job creation, reductions in inequality, expanded scholarships and improvements to workers’ leave entitlements.
He also pointed to increased investment in education and healthcare, as well as efforts to modernize Spanish industry.
The prime minister further highlighted his government's programme of ecological transition and Spain's position on international issues, including its support for Ukraine, the European Union and the United Nations.
Sánchez described Spain as a “global reference point for peace, feminism and prosperity” and urged citizens to ensure that the country remained “a bastion of openness and social justice.”
The early election will now provide Spanish voters with an opportunity to determine whether Sánchez and his allies can retain power or whether opposition parties will gain enough support to form a new government.
Spain last held a general election in 2023, when Sánchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party finished second but subsequently managed to form a government.
His administration was built around a coalition with the left-wing Sumar alliance and parliamentary support from several smaller parties. Among them was Junts, the conservative Catalan separatist party whose decision to vote against the government’s housing decrees has contributed to the latest political crisis.
The relationship between Sánchez’s government and smaller parties has been crucial to his ability to pass legislation, but the latest parliamentary defeat has highlighted the difficulties of governing without a broad majority.
The election had originally been expected to take place no later than August 22, 2027. Sánchez’s decision to call an early vote therefore brings the election forward by several months.
With housing now at the centre of Spain’s political debate, the November 29 election is expected to focus heavily on affordability, evictions, social welfare, inequality and the future direction of the country's economic and social policies.
Sánchez is seeking a stronger mandate to continue his progressive agenda, while opposition parties are expected to campaign on the government's inability to secure parliamentary backing and its handling of the housing crisis.
The election will consequently serve not only as a vote on Sánchez’s government but also as a broader referendum on Spain’s political direction, with voters deciding whether to continue the current progressive programme or support an alternative coalition led by conservative and right-wing forces.
