Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez calls snap elections for November 29

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Monday the holding of snap parliamentary elections scheduled for November 29. The decision follows a period of intense political instability, triggered by the rejection of two emergency government decrees in parliament. These measures, intended to address the ongoing housing crisis and social unrest, were blocked by the Catalan party Junts, among others. The recent public outcry, fueled by the forced eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, added significant pressure to the administration.

In a televised address, Sanchez stated that the current parliament is deeply divided and that he seeks to secure a broader progressive majority to govern effectively. He criticized the opposition for lacking national responsibility and accused economic and social elites of attempting to influence the country's direction without a democratic mandate. The move to call early elections reflects the government's aim to bypass legislative gridlock and renew its popular legitimacy in the face of what the Prime Minister described as the most obstructionist opposition in the nation's history.