Housing defeat sends Spain to an early election

An 87-year-old Madrid resident was evicted from the home where she had lived for more than 70 years, and her case helped bring thousands into the streets. Her rent had risen from €500 to €2,650, according to one report. The protests turned Spain’s housing shortage into a test of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government, which has now called an election for November 29. ²⁷

That November 29 vote follows a defeat in Parliament on October 2, when lawmakers rejected two emergency housing decrees. The proposals included protections against evicting vulnerable tenants and automatic renewal of rental contracts. Sánchez’s Socialist Workers’ Party leads a minority coalition, so it depends on smaller parties to pass laws. The rejection showed how hard that has become. Sánchez announced the election after informing King Felipe VI, saying he wanted a broader progressive majority. ^4,19

That minority government’s struggle matters beyond the housing debate. Rising rents and evictions affect people seeking secure homes, while the failed vote left protesters without the promised emergency measures. Sánchez is also taking a political risk: most polls cited in reports put the conservative People’s Party ahead, with the far-right Vox party a possible partner if it takes power. A new majority could change Spain’s direction on social policy, while a poor result could end Sánchez’s time in office. ^11,29

That possible change in power is not the only immediate effect. Parliament’s closure will halt bills still in progress, including proposed social measures and a bill on Spanish nationality for Sahrawis. The campaign now turns on whether voters back Sánchez’s appeal for broader progressive support or choose the opposition’s call for change. The next fixed step is the November 29 election. ^16,18,20