MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced snap general elections for November 29, 2026, bringing forward the parliamentary vote that had been expected in 2027.

Sanchez made the announcement on Monday, October 5, in an address to the nation from the Moncloa Palace in Madrid. He said he would take the necessary steps to dissolve the Cortes Generales and call the country to the polls.

According to the Spanish government, the prime minister said it was time for Spanish citizens to decide the country’s future and provide a new political mandate.

The decision comes amid growing difficulties faced by Sanchez’s minority government in securing parliamentary support for key legislation. The government suffered recent defeats over housing-related measures, including proposals aimed at addressing evictions, temporary rentals and housing affordability.

The defeats highlighted the fragile nature of Sanchez’s parliamentary support. His Socialist Party (PSOE) has relied on the backing of several smaller and regional parties to pass legislation since forming the government after the 2023 general election.

The housing crisis has emerged as one of Spain’s major domestic political issues, with rising rents, limited housing supply and difficulties faced by tenants becoming increasingly prominent in the national debate.

Opposition parties, including the conservative People’s Party (PP) and the right-wing Vox, have welcomed the decision to hold early elections. The election campaign is expected to focus heavily on housing, the economy, immigration, public services and the future direction of the Spanish government.

Sanchez has defended his government’s economic record, arguing that Spain has maintained strong economic growth and employment performance within the European Union. He has also stressed the need to address inequality, public services and housing pressures.

The November 29 election will therefore be a major political test for Sanchez and his Socialist Party, while the PP and Vox are expected to seek to capitalize on the government’s difficulties in parliament.

Spain’s next general election had been expected in 2027, but following Sanchez’s announcement, voters will now go to the polls on November 29, 2026, to elect a new parliament.