Spain’s Prime Minister Sánchez may call snap election — Politico Europe

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez may call snap parliamentary elections if lawmakers do not support two government housing decrees. Politico Europe reports, citing senior Spanish government officials. The vote on the documents is taking place on October 2 during an extraordinary session of parliament in Madrid.

Decrees on rent and evictions

Sánchez’s government presented two housing decrees on Tuesday following nationwide demonstrations that took place after the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from the apartment where she had lived since 1956. The measures provide for curbing speculative practices, extending eviction protections for vulnerable tenants until 2030, and automatically renewing current rental contracts.

Initially, the government expected to secure sufficient support for at least one of the decrees. However, on the evening of October 1, the Catalan separatist party Junts said it would vote against both initiatives. Politico notes that this ensures their defeat in parliament. Sánchez said on social media platform X that he would not withdraw the decrees and called the vote a moment of truth for lawmakers.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Possibility of an early vote

Before the session, unnamed government sources told the newspaper El País that Sánchez was leaning toward calling early elections if the decrees failed. Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz told Cadena SER that she had spoken with Sánchez but did not rule out the possibility of an early vote.

The current parliament’s regular term expires next summer. According to polls, the center-right People’s Party has 34% support, while Vox has 18%. Both political forces oppose measures that limit homeowners’ rights, instead supporting deregulation and incentives for private owners.

At the request of Sánchez’s Socialist Party and the left-wing Sumar, the vote is being held by a show of hands, so lawmakers are publicly demonstrating their positions. Near parliament in Madrid, protesters moved toward the Congress of Deputies building; more than 1,000 national police officers were deployed to guard it. The Spanish Tenants’ Union is calling for a general strike and says it will continue occupying Puerta del Sol square until its demands are met.