Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has declared that Spain will go to the polls on 29 November, a move that will test the resilience of his minority Socialist government.
Sanchez’s announcement follows the failure of his party to pass key housing reforms in the Spanish Congress, a setback that has left him vulnerable to opposition pressure.
Ahead of the election, opinion polls indicate the Socialists are behind the conservative People’s Party (PP), which is expected to rally support from the far‑right Vox to form a new coalition.
In his speech, Sanchez warned of an “extreme‑right wave” echoing in other democracies and declared that Spain must continue to exemplify peace, feminism and prosperity on the global stage.
The BBC’s Guy Hedgecoe reports live from Madrid, where citizens and political commentators alike are debating the implications of this political gamble.
Follow the BBC’s live coverage of Sanchez’s announcement for real‑time updates.
