(Central News Agency reporter Hu Jiaqi, Madrid, 13th) The Spanish congressional election has been moved forward to November 29th. The election campaign officially started on the 13th, with a 15-day campaign. All political parties held campaign launching ceremonies on the evening of the 12th, kicking off the fierce election campaign.
As Spain's housing crisis continues to burn and demonstrations continue across the country, after Congress rejected the housing reform bill proposed by the government in early October, Prime Minister Sanchez announced that the next congressional election scheduled to be held next year will be held forward to November 29.
The campaign officially kicked off at 0:00 a.m. on the 13th. The campaign period lasted from the 13th to the 27th. From the 24th, election polls were not allowed to be released. The 28th, the day before the election, was designated as a "reflection day" and campaigning and election-supporting activities were prohibited.
On the evening of the 12th, each party held an election campaign opening ceremony in different regions of Spain.
The long-established leftist Socialist Party (PSOE) led by Sanchez chose to launch its election campaign in Sevilla, the capital of Andalucía, its home base. He defended various measures implemented by the government and called on supporters to carry out historic mobilization to achieve an "epic return."
Although the current government has encountered various crises such as railway accidents, immigration incidents and housing problems, and Sanchez's family and cabinet members have been involved in corruption cases, according to the Spanish Radio and Television Corporation (RTVE), the Socialist Labor Party, the largest party in the ruling coalition, still leads the polls with 33.3% support.
The conservative right-wing Popular Party (PP) held its first campaign in the Catalonia autonomous region. In his speech, party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo advocated the establishment of an open, strong and prosperous Catalonia.
Fejo opened fire to attack the Sanchez government, saying that the national strike was a failure, emphasizing that Spain's territorial integrity is not negotiable, that the country needs a government that can guarantee border security, and promised to bring to the people a government that "is not corrupt" and "tells the truth."
Santiago Abascal, leader of the anti-immigration far-right Vox party, continues to focus on the "country first" political agenda, arguing that Spain's public health care system has been "overwhelmed by immigrants."
Abascal criticized Sanchez's government as "abnormal" and was formed through an agreement with the separatist terrorist organization "ETA", Catalan separatists and the Communist Party.
The Frente Amplio, composed of left-wing alliance Sumar and other parties, launched former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau as its candidate for prime minister. She shouted for "change", called on Sanchez to be more humble towards the working class, and urged regulation of housing rights and rent prices.
Irene Montero, candidate of the left-wing Podemos party, called on Congress to have a strong enough left-wing force to promote measures to stop the far-right forces and protect housing, peace and employment.
This general election will re-elect 350 seats in Congress. The party or alliance that wins an absolute majority of 176 seats will have a chance to form a new government. However, under the current situation of polarization in Spanish society and serious differences in public opinion between the left and right, it is difficult for any political party to win a majority of the seats. It will not be easy to negotiate with allies with similar positions to form a cabinet. (Editor: Chen Chenggong) 1151114
