Spain's Sanchez gambles on snap election after housing protests give rare boost
EWG•Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap election for November 29 after parliament rejected housing proposals, with his Socialists trailing in most polls. A poll projected 203 seats for the opposition People's Party and Vox combined, against 112 for the Socialists and Sumar.
1. Election follows housing defeat
Sanchez called an early election for November 29, seeking greater parliamentary support after lawmakers rejected housing measures last week. Protests over unaffordable housing have welcomed the proposals, while Sanchez said he aims to win a larger progressive majority.
2. Polls favor opposition
A Sigma Dos poll projected the People's Party and Vox would win 203 seats in the 350-seat lower house, compared with 112 for the Socialists and their junior coalition partners, Sumar. The result could bring Vox into central government for the first time since Spain's return to democracy after Francisco Franco's death in 1975.
3. Unions plan strike
Spain's two largest unions, CCOO and UGT, said they would call a 24-hour nationwide strike this autumn to seek better salaries to help people afford housing; no date has been set. Spain's blue-chip index was flat after the election announcement, and government bonds were broadly steady.
