Spanish PM Sánchez calls early election after housing protests

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called an early election for 29 November after recent defeats on legislation aimed at tackling the country's housing crisis. Speculation about a snap election had been building after parliament rejected two decree laws put forward by the government to support tenants in the rental market. The eviction of an 87‑year‑old woman from her home after she was unable to afford a sharp rent increase sparked nationwide protests and increased pressure for housing reform. In a televised address on Monday, Sánchez said that to push reforms forward he needed "a broader progressive majority" that could "overcome the absorption of the elites". Housing has not been the only issue causing problems for Sánchez's government in recent months, with his coalition caught up in numerous corruption scandals and facing pressure on other cost‑of‑living matters and immigration. "We person made mistakes and person not achieved everything we had acceptable retired to do," Sánchez said, acknowledging that there were still "a batch of problems to solve, peculiarly successful the areas of inequality, of nationalist services and entree to housing". Sánchez's left‑wing coalition government consists of his ruling Socialist Party and junior partner the Sumar alliance, and it does not hold a majority in parliament. Spain was not due to hold a general election until the summer of 2027 at the latest. Sánchez has been prime minister since June 2018. His Socialist Party finished second in the previous election, in 2023. Although the conservative People's Party won the most seats, it fell short of a majority. Sánchez remained in power after striking agreements with left‑wing parties and securing support from Catalan and Basque nationalist and pro‑independence groups. Most opinion polls suggest the conservatives are likely to be the largest party in the next election. However, they would be expected to need the support of the hard‑right Vox party to form a government. Speaking after Monday's announcement, the leader of the People's Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said: "At last, Spaniards volition beryllium capable to decide". The opposition said it would not be "just different election", but a chance for voters to choose between "decline oregon change, lies oregon change, incompetence oreg