From Daily Maverick · Reuters · · 1m 50s
Spanish PM calls snap election for November
Pedro Sanchez gambles on an early vote as his Socialist Party trails in polls, risking Spain's last major left-wing government to the far-right.
In brief
Pedro Sanchez gambles on an early vote as his Socialist Party trails in polls, risking Spain's last major left-wing government to the far-right. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap election for November twenty-ninth, a risky move as his Socialist Party trails in opinion polls and the far-right gains…
Sanchez calls snap election
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Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Monday a snap election for November twenty-ninth, a risky move as his Socialist Party trails in opinion polls.
Housing crisis sparks the gamble
Sanchez's proposals to tackle a mounting housing crisis were well received but were struck down by right-wing MPs on Friday, leading to planned new public protests.
Far-right threatens Europe's left
An election defeat would end one of Europe's last few left-leaning governments at a time when the far-right is making unprecedented gains across the region.
Far-right poised to enter government
Opinion polls suggest a coalition led by the conservative People's Party with the support of Vox is the most likely outcome, ushering a far-right party into central government for the first time since democracy returned after Franco's death.
Sanchez's coalition juggling act
Despite never winning enough votes for a majority, Sanchez has cobbled together fragile coalitions from far-left to separatist right to remain in power for three successive terms lasting eight years.
Government stalled by fragmentation
Growing fragmentation among his partners has meant the government has passed little legislation in its third term and failed to pass a budget since twenty twenty-three, even as Spain's economy remains one of the best performing in the developed world.
Corruption and weak approval ratings
Senior members of Sanchez's own Socialist Party have faced graft allegations in the past year, dragging down the party's approval rating which has hovered at around twenty-six to thirty-one percent throughout his tenure.
The big picture
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap election for November twenty-ninth, a risky move as his Socialist Party trails in opinion polls and the far-right gains ground across Europe.
