1. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on 5 October that he would call an early general election for 29 November, after parliament rejected his minority government’s measures to tackle the housing crisis.

Speaking from the Moncloa palace in Madrid, Sánchez said he wanted a larger parliamentary mandate to carry out reforms, according to AFP’s report quoted by Asharq Al-Awsat.

To do more, he said, his government needed to renew and broaden its public support. He set out the goal of securing a substantially larger progressive majority in parliament to pursue social reforms.

The announcement followed the rejection of housing measures on 2 October and demonstrations demanding affordable homes on 3 October. Tens of thousands of people marched in Madrid and other Spanish cities, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

The defeated proposals included automatic renewal of rental contracts and restrictions on evicting vulnerable tenants, the newspaper reported. Their rejection left those measures without parliamentary approval.

Sánchez has led Spain’s government since 2018. His minority coalition has struggled to pass legislation, and Spain continues to operate under its 2023 budget, the last national spending plan his government secured, according to the newspaper.

The election timetable is governed by Spain’s general electoral law. Article 42 requires a decree calling an early election to be published in the official state gazette the day after it is issued.

The decree takes effect on publication, and polling must take place on the 54th day after the election is called, the law states.

The same legislation distinguishes the wider election period from the formal campaign. Article 51 provides for a 15-day campaign beginning on the 38th day after the election call and ending at midnight at the start of the day before voting.

Parties intending to contest the election together must notify the electoral authorities of their coalition within 10 days of the election call, under Article 44.