Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap election for Nov. 29. Parliament rejected housing measures, intensifying uncertainty.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced Monday that Spain will hold an early general election on Nov. 29, bringing forward a vote that had been expected next year. The announcement came after his minority government suffered a major parliamentary defeat over emergency measures intended to address the country’s worsening housing crisis.
The government had proposed measures including stronger protections for vulnerable tenants, restrictions affecting some rental arrangements and other steps aimed at easing pressure on the housing market. Parliament rejected the measures Friday, with opposition parties and Junts, a Catalan separatist party whose support has been important to Sánchez’s government, voting against the proposals.
The parliamentary defeat followed demonstrations across Spain over housing costs. Tens of thousands of people took part in protests Saturday in Madrid and other cities, demanding action on rents, evictions and access to affordable housing. Reuters reported that Spanish government figures put attendance in Madrid at about 70,000, while organizers gave a substantially higher estimate.
Housing has become a major political issue in Spain as rents and property prices have risen sharply over the past decade. Data cited by Al Jazeera from property website Idealista showed average rents had nearly doubled over that period, while asking prices for homes also increased substantially. The issue has generated growing pressure on national and local authorities to increase housing supply and strengthen protections for renters.
Sánchez has led Spain since 2018 and governs without a parliamentary majority, requiring support from smaller parties to pass legislation. The failure of the housing measures highlighted the difficulty his administration faces in securing enough votes for key policies. The Nov. 29 election will determine the composition of Spain’s next Congress and the political support available to form a government.
The election campaign will take place against the backdrop of continuing protests and debate over housing affordability. Sánchez’s decision also ends speculation that his government would attempt to continue governing until the scheduled end of the current parliamentary term.
Information was reported by Reuters, The Associated Press, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Politico, Al Jazeera and other original news providers.