Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has initiated a high-stakes political gamble by calling a snap election for November 29, following unprecedented nationwide protests over the country's deepening housing crisis. The decision, announced on October 5, effectively cuts his parliamentary term short by six months, signaling a desperate attempt to regain political momentum amidst mounting public anger.
The move followed the government's failure to secure parliamentary support for critical housing reform measures. However, in a swift response to the political pressure, the administration approved modified decrees shortly after the election announcement, including rent caps, temporary eviction bans, and restrictions on corporate home purchases. Sánchez is clearly banking on the housing issue to unify progressive voters and distract from other vulnerabilities, including corruption allegations within his inner circle and the ongoing migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
The housing movement gained significant traction following the tragic death of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal, known as 'Maricarmen,' who became a national symbol of the crisis after being evicted from her home in Madrid. Her death on October 7 galvanized protesters, with demonstrations erupting in major cities, including Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where residents argue that the government prioritizes tourism over the basic right to housing. Activists like Sofía Olivares of the group 'Derecho al Techo' highlight that in regions like the Canary Islands, nearly 30,000 people are on waiting lists for public housing, while property funds continue to displace families.
Adding to the complexity is the migration issue. Right-wing parties, particularly the People’s Party and the anti-immigration Vox, have blamed Sánchez’s relatively open migration policies for exacerbating the housing shortage. Sánchez, conversely, maintains that migration is essential for sustaining Spain's economic growth and has defended his government's regularization programs.
Polling data currently suggests a potential victory for a conservative coalition. Should this occur, it would mark the first time the far-right has entered Spain's national government since the transition to democracy following the dictatorship of Francisco Franco in 1975. With social housing accounting for only 1.7 percent of the total housing stock—well below the EU average—and a projected deficit of one million homes by 2028, the upcoming election is set to be a defining moment for the future of Spanish social policy.
