Spain to Hold Early General Election on October 29: A High-Stakes Gamble by Cornered PM Sánchez

Amid large-scale protests against a housing crisis and the parliamentary defeat of related legislation, Spain is set to hold a snap general election on October 29, local time.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the early election during a televised address on October 5, stating, "We need to renew the mandate of the people."

Sánchez, who leads the center-left Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) government, said, "We must achieve a much larger progressive majority in parliament. Only then can we overcome the interests of the privileged, achieve new social progress, and continue transforming Spain."

With the Socialists trailing in recent polls, the snap election is a high-stakes gamble for Sánchez, and losing power would mean the end of one of the few remaining leftist governments in Europe, Reuters reported.

Sánchez took office as prime minister in 2018.

The next general election was originally scheduled to be held next summer.

Sánchez acknowledged that "part of the social majority is dissatisfied today," emphasizing that he will fight to ensure Spain "remains a bastion of openness, social justice, and environmental responsibility."

The main opposition Popular Party (PP) wrote "Finally" on X, formerly Twitter.

Conservative factions, including the Popular Party and the far-right Vox party, have long demanded that Sánchez dissolve parliament and call an early election.

The Sánchez government has found itself cornered.

Close aides, including his wife, have faced investigations over corruption allegations, and the administration has faced criticism from the conservative opposition for maintaining relatively lenient immigration policies within Europe.

A massive influx of migrants into the North African autonomous city of Ceuta last July sparked friction with European Union (EU) member states that take a hard-line stance on immigration, such as Italy.

Recently, large-scale protests erupted against the chronic housing crisis following an incident in which an 87-year-old elderly person was forcibly evicted from their home.

The Sánchez government hastily formulated tenant protection measures to resolve the housing crunch, but the bill collapsed due to opposition from the conservative camp.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.