Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced the dissolution of the country's parliament and announced the date for early elections. The Spanish news agency EFE reported this on Monday, September 26.

Early elections to the Cortes General of Spain will take place on November 20. The new parliament will begin its work on December 13.

Zapatero said the decision would allow the new government to implement more effective policies because it would have more time to develop economic reforms. The opposition has repeatedly demanded early elections.

Zapatero himself refused to run for parliament. Instead, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party will be led in the elections by former Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. He has already assured future voters that he will do everything possible to protect education and health care from spending cuts if he takes the post of prime minister, reports the Associated Press .

However, judging by the polls, Rubalcaba is unlikely to take the post of prime minister. The Socialists are supported by 31.4 percent of Spaniards, while 46.1 percent are going to vote for the Spanish People's Party.

The popularity of the Zapatero government has fallen sharply due to the economic crisis in Spain. The country's unemployment rate reached 21 percent (the highest among developed countries). For the sake of financial recovery, the government had to cut government spending and cut jobs in government agencies.

Anti-crisis reforms are extremely unpopular in society. Since 2010, mass protests and strikes have continued in Spain.

Parliament dissolved in Spain