Early elections in Spain: Sanchez dissolves parliament

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Spanish Prime Minister and member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party Pedro Sánchez dissolved parliament and called early elections for November 29, 2026 - almost eight months earlier than planned.

What is the reason for early elections?

The immediate cause was the blocking by the right-wing opposition - the People's Party, PP, and the far-right Vox - and the Catalan right-wing party Junts of government decrees aimed at limiting the cost of rent and freezing evictions from rented housing.

The announcement of the elections was preceded by mass protests in major cities due to the housing crisis and rising costs of living, caused, among other things, by the high-profile eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner in Madrid.

The Prime Minister called the blocking of decrees a “matter of humanity” and said that the eviction of vulnerable citizens should not be allowed with the approval of right-wing forces. He stressed that “housing is a right, not a business,” accusing the opposition of protecting the interests of “vulture funds.”

“ The elections are an attempt by Sanchez to address one issue head-on - the issue of housing. And expensive housing, and some kind of housing reform. That is, now [Sánchez’s] bet is that now, with these protests, the elections will also be held in the atmosphere of one single problem ,” notes journalist Gleb Golubkov, who writes about Spain, in a conversation with DOXA.

Over the past ten years, the cost of renting in Spain has increased by 87%, and home purchases by 80%, while wages have increased by only 30%. This is why the position of the Tenant:k Trade Union and their calls for mobilization or boycott will critically affect the turnout of the left electorate.

At the same time, the expert notes, the announcement of the elections was preceded by other challenges that increased pressure on the Sanchez government - corruption scandals and the migration crisis in Ceuta.

What determines the outcome of the elections?

Neither the Socialists - Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, PSOE, 26% - nor the Conservatives - People's Party, PP, 34% - receive an absolute majority, according to current ratings. The PP's chances of forming a government depend on an alliance with the far-right Vox (18%), while Sánchez will find it much more difficult to assemble the previous left-regional coalition. Thus, the emergence of the first Spanish government with the participation of the far right becomes a real prospect.

Against this background, the left flank of Spanish politics is trying to organize a united front Frente Amplio, but so far negotiations have been difficult - internal contradictions are arising. Moreover, socialist attempts to exploit the threat of Vox coming to power are weaker than in 2023, since Vox is already part of coalition governments with the PP in several regions of Spain.

Against this background, the left flank of Spanish politics is trying to organize a united front Frente Amplio, but so far the negotiations are difficult - internal contradictions arise. Moreover, socialist attempts to exploit the threat of Vox coming to power are weaker than in 2023, since Vox is already part of coalition governments with the PP in several regions of Spain.

In this situation, Golubkov notes, one of the possible strategies of the left may not be victory - this prospect now looks poorly realized - but an attempt to prevent the right from gaining an absolute majority of seats in parliament - more than 50% - which would give them the opportunity to make any decisions in parliament.

In addition, voters' attention is drawn to events in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in Africa after a massive influx of migrants, as well as judicial investigations into Sanchez's entourage - including his wife Begoña Gomez and ex-Prime Minister Zapatero.

At the same time, the topic of the housing crisis could become an important tool for the left's campaign.

Consequences

The possible defeat of Sánchez, the only social democrat at the head of a major EU country, will weaken the position of the socialists - the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, S&D - in the EU Council and the European Parliament and call into question the stability of the coalition with the center-right - the European People's Party, the EPP - around Ursula von der Leyen. On the other hand, losing power in Madrid will deprive the S&D faction of incentives to compromise with the EPP, especially if the center right continues to make deals with the far right.

At the same time, Golubkov doubts the ability of the right to quickly and effectively form its own government - the problem is the intractability and toxicity of the far-right Vox. At the same time, such a government, the expert believes, is unlikely to cope with the housing crisis: “ Vox did not present their plan for the housing crisis, PP did, but there are cosmetic changes in favor of market freedom. This problem needs to be tackled radically and we need to invest more in the construction sector, because right now the biggest problem in Spain in terms of housing is that there is simply not enough housing .”

According to polls, around 68% of Spanish citizens (including a majority of voters in the opposition PP and Vox) support the introduction of restrictions on rent increases. The official election campaign will take place from November 13 to 27, and the first meeting of the new parliament is scheduled for December 23, 2026.