Spain calls early general election for November 29

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called a snap general election for November 29 after his government suffered a parliamentary defeat on two housing measures.

Sanchez announced the decision on Monday morning from the Moncloa Palace and called an extraordinary cabinet meeting to begin the process of dissolving parliament and calling the election.

The move followed parliament's rejection of two government decrees aimed at easing the housing crisis and strengthening tenant protections. The People's Party, Vox and Catalan party Junts per Catalunya voted against the measures.

Sanchez's Socialist Party holds 121 seats in the 350-seat Congress of Deputies, while coalition partner Sumar has 26. The government has therefore depended on support from smaller and regional parties to pass legislation.

Sanchez said he was seeking a renewed public mandate and broader support to continue his government's agenda. The announcement came amid widespread protests over Spain's housing crisis in Madrid and other cities.

According to CCTV+, the snap election will test the stability of Spain's current governing coalition and shape the country's political direction amid a severe housing crisis and a fragmented parliament.