Conservative Popular Party leads polling ahead of November election
Popular Party leads polls in the race toward Spain's November 29 election.
Event / Politics
Spain Parliamentary Election 2026
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called early parliamentary elections for November 29, 2026, following Parliament's rejection of government housing measures and mass protests over affordable housing crisis.
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2026-10-05 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 5 Oct, 08:48 UTC
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What happened
Massive protests across Spain demand affordable housing solutions
Tens of thousands of people protested across multiple Spanish cities on October 5, 2026, demanding affordable housing. The protests were triggered by the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old resident of Madrid who was forced to leave her apartment of 70 years after an investment company purchased the property and attempted to increase rent by 275%. An activist encampment was established in central Madrid.
Spanish Parliament rejects government housing crisis measures
The Spanish Parliament rejected housing measures presented by the government on October 4, 2026. The measures would have suspended evictions of vulnerable persons until 2030, implemented protections against investment funds (vulture funds), and mandated automatic renewal of rental contracts. The rejection constituted a significant defeat for the Socialist-led minority government.
Conservative Popular Party leads Spanish opinion polls
The Spanish opposition's main conservative party, the Partido Popular (PP), leads in recent opinion polls. The PP has been publicly calling for early elections for several months. After eight years in power, Prime Minister Sanchez has been weakened by corruption scandals involving close associates including his wife, brother, and key Socialist Party collaborators.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announces early elections for November 29, 2026
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on October 5, 2026, that he was calling early parliamentary elections for November 29, 2026. The announcement came after the Spanish Parliament rejected government measures on housing on October 4. Sanchez made the announcement during a formal address from the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, dissolving Parliament nine months before the end of the current legislative term.
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2 alternative perspectives
Housing crisis triggers early Spanish parliamentary election call
Housing crisis rejection triggers early Spanish elections as public protests intensify.