MADRID: Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday called a snap election for November 29, after parliament rejected housing relief measures proposed by his minority government amid nationwide protests.
The defeat on Friday was just the latest political setback for Sanchez, one of the few left-leaning government leaders still in power in Europe.
“To do more, we need to renew and broaden the support of the people,” Sanchez said in a televised address, adding that his aim was “to secure a much broader, progressive majority in parliament”.
The next general election was scheduled to take place by August 2027.
His announcement came after tens of thousands of people marched in Madrid and other cities on Saturday demanding action on housing affordability.