Spain will hold early elections on November 29 as large-scale protests continue over the housing crisis.
On October 5, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the early elections during a televised address, stating, "We need to renew the support of the people," according to reports from Reuters and AFP.
Sánchez, who leads the left-leaning Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), emphasized the need for a stronger progressive majority in Parliament to overcome the interests of the established elite and achieve new social progress in Spain.
With the PSOE trailing in recent polls, the early elections represent a significant gamble for Sánchez, and losing could signal the end of one of the few remaining leftist governments in Europe, Reuters noted.
The Financial Times pointed out that this could pave the way for a coalition government between the conservative People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party in the EU's fourth-largest economy.
According to polling trends compiled by Politico Europe, as of September 26, the support rates for the parties were 34% for the People's Party, 26% for the Socialist Party, and 18% for Vox, with the leftist coalition Sumar trailing at 5%.
Sánchez has positioned himself as a prominent leftist leader in Europe, advocating for relatively lenient immigration policies and actively opposing former U.S. President Donald Trump.
However, he faces scrutiny due to corruption allegations involving his wife and close associates, as well as criticism from the opposition for his immigration policies amid a surge of migrants into the autonomous city of Ceuta from North Africa in July, which has led to tensions with other EU member states that favor stricter immigration controls.
Recently, large protests erupted in response to the forced eviction of an 87-year-old man from his home, highlighting the ongoing housing crisis. Although Sánchez's government rushed to implement tenant protection measures, the legislation failed due to opposition from rival parties.
Sánchez has been in office since 2018, with the next general election originally scheduled for next summer.
He acknowledged, "I know that part of the social majority is dissatisfied today," and pledged to fight to ensure that Spain remains a bastion of openness, social justice, and environmental responsibility.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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