Spain’s Prime Minister calls snap election amid national housing crisis
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday called an early election for November 29 of this year.
Mr Sanchez held a press conference early this morning to address a national housing crisis, after parliament rejected two of his government’s emergency relief measures on Friday.
The vote prompted tens of thousands to march in the streets on Saturday in the capital, Madrid, and other cities. Protesters were calling for action on rent prices and tenant protections.
Spain’s next general election was due next year, and Mr Sánchez had previously said he would complete a full four-year term.
Mr Sánchez said his government had to deal with “a highly contentious” parliament where “many confuse reaching agreements with betrayal,” and deal with “powerful economic and social elites” who want to influence Spain’s future without being ever elected.
He said his government had to deal with “the worst opposition in history,” as he said they never wanted to show any responsibility for the state, but kept challenging and questioning the legitimacy of the government.
He summed up what he says are his government’s achievements with Spain becoming the fastest-growing economy in the EU, recording a purchasing power increase “at three times” that of France and Germany, but also with social and energy reforms.
“We have done everything in our power to defend the interests of the Spanish people,” he said.
He also pointed to his government’s decisions on foreign policy, with continued support for Ukraine, and work in the EU and at the UN, “fighting tyrants, oligarchs and speculators.” He said it all transformed Spain into “a global example.”
In a very political conclusion of his speech, Mr Sánchez said the voters will have to decide whether they want the country to “regress or keep moving forward,” as he painted the opposition as “a far-right coalition that offers no proposals,” but only wants to “repeal and curtail the rights and freedoms of the last eight years.”
“I have faith in my fellow citizens because I know you are a brave and compassionate people who rise to meet challenges and are unafraid to be the first, or the only ones, to step up and stand on the right side of history. We will work to earn your trust, to inspire hope, and to win again," he said.
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