THE GUARDIAN: Election called after rightwing parties voted down emergency legislation aimed at tackling housing crisis
Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has once again staked his political future on a snap general election called after rightwing parties torpedoed emergency legislation to tackle the housing crisis.
Sánchez, who has been in office since 2018, used a televised address to communicate his decision, which had been widely expected. The next general election had been due before the end of next summer.
Announcing on Monday morning that an early general election would be held on 29 November, the prime minister defended his government’s social, environmental and humanitarian record – and admitted it had made mistakes – but said it was time to let the Spanish people have their say.
“It’s up to you now,” he said. “A glance at the horizon shows us that the world is in a very complex era of transformation and transition. It’s a time of great tension, of climate emergency, and of social and technological changes – including highly disruptive advances in artificial intelligence. It is, therefore, a time of great dangers, but also – if we know how to seize the moment – of great opportunities. You, the Spanish people, must decide what role you wish to play in this era, and what role you want Spain to play as well.” » | Sam Jones and Ashifa Kassam in Madrid | Monday, October 5, 2026
