Spanish PM Sanchez Launches Election Campaign as Housing Crisis Deepens Nationwide Protests

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez launched his campaign for a snap election on Saturday, as the country remains engulfed in protests over a deepening housing crisis that has become a defining issue of the upcoming vote.

The catalyst for the political upheaval was the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid home two weeks ago. Her case became symbolic of what many see as a systemic failure to address affordable housing, galvanizing nationwide demonstrations.

Abascal, who passed away in hospital this week, became the face of Spain’s chronic housing shortage, with her story prompting urgent legislative responses from Sanchez’s left-wing coalition government.

However, when the minority government failed to secure parliamentary approval for its proposed measures, Sanchez decided to call an election for November 29, moving the vote forward from its originally scheduled date in 2027.

Sanchez, who has been in power since 2018, has gained international recognition for his confrontations with former U.S. President Donald Trump and his stance on Israel, positions that have resonated with progressive movements globally.

Despite his international profile, Sanchez remains a polarizing figure domestically and currently trails behind the conservative Popular Party (PP) in most opinion polls.

During his rally on Saturday, Sanchez pledged to strengthen tenant protections against “real estate speculation” should his party win an absolute majority in the upcoming election.

“Maricarmen and all those who campaign for her, along with everyone fighting for the just cause of housing, have shown us the path,” Sanchez said, expressing his admiration for Abascal.

Economic Concerns: Wages, Housing, and Pensions

Sanchez chose the symbolic location of Dos Hermanas, a commuter town near Seville and a historic Socialist stronghold, to officially begin his election campaign.

This marks the same location where he launched his successful 2023 campaign, defying expectations to retain office despite the PP winning more seats in that election.

Dos Hermanas also holds personal significance for Sanchez, as it was where he staged his political comeback after resigning as Socialist Party leader in 2016 following two difficult electoral defeats.

Isabel Morales, a 67-year-old pensioner who attended the rally, expressed her support for Sanchez’s tenure to AFP reporters.

“He’s accomplished a lot for working people—raising wages, increasing pensions, implementing housing legislation. These are all very positive achievements. I hope he can continue,” Morales stated.

“A Complete Change We Need”

PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo held his own rally in Madrid on Saturday, positioning himself as the alternative prime minister after his unsuccessful attempt to form a government in 2023.

“Spain needs a vision for the future, and Sanchez represents the past,” Feijóo declared to his supporters. “We are proposing a complete transformation.”

The PP leader, who leads in most recent polls, has focused his criticism on the government’s handling of the migration crisis in Ceuta, where he recently held an event promising to restore order.

In late July, over 70,000 migrants entered the Spanish North African enclave from neighboring Morocco, with thousands remaining for months under challenging conditions, creating local frustration and concern.

Nevertheless, polling data suggests Feijóo may struggle to secure a parliamentary majority, potentially elevating the far-right Vox party—the third-largest in parliament—to a pivotal role in any coalition negotiations.

Rubén Moscoso, a 31-year-old public-sector employee at the rally, argued that Feijóo deserves an opportunity to lead.

“We want to rescue our country from ruin, corruption, and the questionable practices we’ve seen lately,” Moscoso commented.

Housing, which has long been among the top concerns for Spanish voters, dominated discussions at both rallies on Saturday, as hundreds of protesters established camps in Madrid’s iconic Puerta del Sol square and other cities, demanding stronger tenant protections and affordable housing options.

Trade unions have announced a general strike scheduled for November 11—the first nationwide stoppage in Spain since 2012—to intensify pressure on housing and wage issues ahead of the election.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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