Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called an early general election for November 29, bringing voters to the polls about nine months before the legislature was expected to end.
Sánchez announced the decision in an institutional address from Madrid on Monday, October 5. Spain’s government said he had informed King Felipe VI before making the election date public.
Housing defeat preceded the announcement
The move followed parliament’s rejection on Friday of two government decrees intended to address Spain’s housing crisis. The measures failed after opposition from the conservative Popular Party, the far-right Vox party and the Catalan party Junts, according to established Spanish and international reporting.
Sánchez said Spain needed a broader progressive majority to continue the government’s social program. His Socialist Party has governed in a minority coalition with Sumar and has relied on shifting support from regional parties to pass legislation.
Housing affordability is expected to become a central campaign issue. Street protests and a legislative deadlock have intensified pressure on the government, while the Popular Party and Vox are seeking to replace Sánchez’s coalition.
What happens next
The election call begins the formal process of dissolving parliament and setting the campaign calendar. The cabinet must approve the corresponding decree under Spain’s constitutional procedure.
Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo is expected to be Sánchez’s principal challenger. Smaller parties and regional blocs could again determine whether either major party can assemble a governing majority after the vote.
The November 29 date is confirmed, but the balance of the next parliament and possible coalition combinations remain uncertain. Readers can follow additional developments in Politics and World News.
Sources
- Government of Spain announcement, October 5, 2026.
- Reuters, October 5, 2026.
- Associated Press, October 5, 2026.
- Europa Press, October 5, 2026.