World
Spain calls 29 November election after housing bill defeat
Pedro Sánchez brought forward the national vote after lawmakers rejected proposed protections for tenants and vulnerable residents.
From 6 October 2026 — Daily Brief
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap general election for 29 November on Monday after his minority government suffered a parliamentary defeat over housing measures.
The announcement brings forward a national vote that was otherwise due by August 2027. It follows the rejection on Friday of legislation intended to strengthen protection for tenants and people facing eviction.
The proposed measures included automatic renewal of rental contracts and safeguards against evicting vulnerable residents. Junts, the Catalan party whose support has been important to the government’s parliamentary arithmetic, voted against the bill.
The defeat exposed the difficulty of securing sufficient backing for legislation in a fragmented parliament. The measures were proposals rejected by lawmakers, rather than protections that had already taken effect.
Housing has become a central political issue, with public anger over access to affordable accommodation and the treatment of residents threatened with losing their homes. The election announcement turns the dispute into a test of which parties can assemble a governing majority.
Voters are now scheduled to choose a new parliament on 29 November. The result will determine the balance of forces for subsequent government formation and whether a future administration can secure support for its housing agenda.
