Pedro Sánchez calls new elections in Spain

Things haven't been going well for Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, recently. His Social Democratic Party (PSOE) lost badly in the regional elections in Andalusia in May. There are various cases of corruption in Sánchez's environment. The migration crisis in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in July 2026 continues to smolder.

Then an 87-year-old woman's apartment is evicted because she cannot pay a rent increase. Images of this go around the world: a combative old lady being carried, exhausted, into an ambulance. This is causing an outcry in Spain - and now new elections. It's not the first time.

Sánchez will call new elections as early as 2023 after his party lost local and regional elections. The conservative Partido Popular (PP) wins. But the PP cannot govern alone, and even the right-wing populist party VOX does not have enough of a majority in parliament.

Sánchez, whose party will only be the second strongest force in 2023, will then remain in power. Because he managed to convince regional parties to support a minority government led by him with the left-wing Sumar alliance.

What many Spaniards still resent him to this day: Sánchez also secured the support of the Catalan separatists around Carles Puigdemont. He is the man who wanted to lead the Catalonia region to independence after an independence referendum in 2017 that was declared unconstitutional.

Sánchez makes concessions and promises to all regional parties. But none of this is as controversial as an appointment he makes with Puigdemont's party (Junts). He is holding out the prospect of an amnesty law for Catalan separatists and is campaigning for Catalonia to become an official language of the EU in Brussels.

Many Spaniards take to the streets in anger. Before the election, Sánchez said that an amnesty law would be unacceptable and incompatible with the constitution. For some, Sánchez is a “traitor.” Others describe him as a "survivalist" who always manages to free himself from hopeless political situations.

Sánchez is ultimately re-elected head of government and the 2024 amnesty law is passed with a narrow majority.

The fragile left-wing minority government made up of PSOE and Sumar will be supported in parliament by Puigdemont's party, among others, until autumn 2025. Then the break follows. The separatists are dissatisfied with the implementation of the amnesty law. Puigdemont still lives in exile in Belgium. The fact that Sánchez's Social Democrats won the regional elections in Catalonia in 2024 and Junts' independence movement is losing importance may also have played a role.

There is speculation about new elections in autumn 2025. But Sánchez doesn't call them out. And opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo from the conservative Partido Popular is wary of a vote of no confidence in parliament. Because he would only get a majority with votes from regional parties.

The fact that there is no broad movement on the streets for new elections at this time is probably also due to economic data: Spain will achieve growth of 2.8 percent in 2025. Tourism and the construction industry are booming, there is a record employment.

In the spring of 2026, Sánchez presented himself as a kind of anti-Trump: to the delight of most Spaniards, he banned the USA from using Spanish airspace for attacks on Iran. And his government is legalizing the stay of irregular migrants; provided they have no criminal record.

When Spain became World Cup champions this summer, the country was in a party mood. New elections are no longer a big issue, although there are cases of corruption among Sánchez's closest associates.

There was only major criticism of Sánchez again after tens of thousands of migrants stormed the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in northern Africa. It is said that his government ignored warnings and is now unable to get the situation under control. In fact, there are still thousands of people in Ceuta who presumably have no chance of asylum.

As a result, demonstrations are now calling for new elections. The momentum seems to be on the side of the conservatives, who are calling for less migration and a strict, strong state. Sánchez is now also weakened because his government asked for help from Brussels late.

Then 87-year-old pensioner Maricarmen Abascal is carried out of her apartment in Madrid. It is the initial spark that drives people onto the streets to fight for more tenant protection and housing. In surveys conducted by the Spanish Sociological Research Center (CIS), the housing market has long been the most pressing problem facing Spaniards.

The left-wing minority government is bringing proposals for more tenant protection to parliament. PP, VOX and the Puigdemont party will vote against it on Friday. According to a survey, two thirds of all Spaniards are in favor of more tenant protection. Even 55 percent of voters say they are more inclined towards the PP and VOX.

At this moment Pedro Sánchez decides to call for early elections.

After a long time, a social issue is once again dominating the headlines. Now Sánchez probably sees the momentum on his side. The “survival artist” hopes that a mood turns into voices.