Spain is set to hold early elections on November 29, marking a critical moment in the country’s political landscape. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had initially hoped to regain support from leftist voters by addressing the public’s anger over housing issues. However, as dissatisfaction with the government continues to grow, Spain is facing a significant political reshuffling.
The lead-up to the elections has catalyzed the country’s housing crisis, leading to the first nationwide general strike in 14 years. On Wednesday, November 11, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in protest. According to police estimates, over 200,000 individuals participated in the demonstrations, while organizers claim that participation exceeded one million.
The spark for these protests came in September when 87-year-old retiree Maricarmen Abascal was forced to vacate her apartment of 71 years due to rental disputes, inciting outrage across the nation. Tragically, the day before she was due to return home, she passed away in the hospital in October.
Prime Minister Sánchez has stated that housing is a core struggle of contemporary society. However, as protests initiated by more leftist movements have surged, public demands have expanded beyond housing to include calls for high-quality public education and healthcare systems, among other issues.
On Wednesday evening, 40-year-old elementary school teacher Maria Torrena Perez joined a rally in Madrid, expressing her frustration to the media. “We are truly fed up with too many things,” she stated.
“We need decent housing, we need a high-quality public education system, and we require a reliable healthcare system. Ultimately, they are failing to allocate funds where they are needed, and we have had enough of the policies enforced by the authorities,” she added.
In addition to housing concerns, two recent fatal train collisions, corruption convictions of key members within Sánchez’s inner circle, and a significant influx of illegal immigrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta have severely undermined voter support for Sánchez’s administration.
Despite Sánchez’s vigorous campaigning, polls indicate that his Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) remains stagnant, garnering only between 26% to 29% support since announcing the early elections in October.
Analysts suggest that if there is no significant shift in the political climate over the next two weeks, an alliance between the conservative People’s Party (PP) and the far-right nationalist party Vox, which advocates strict border controls and deregulation, is likely to take over the government.
In a recently released campaign video, Sánchez referred to the merger of the PP and Vox as a “regression.” However, leftist student movement spokesperson Mario Aguiriano bluntly remarked that Sánchez’s self-proclaimed progressive government is, in reality, a “gradual regression.”
Tesh Sidi, a member of the more leftist Broad Front party, noted that progressive voters will no longer be deceived by the PSOE’s attempts to don the mantle of left-wing “Che Guevara” during their campaign.
With negotiations for a united leftist platform having collapsed last month, dissatisfied left-wing voters now find themselves choosing between supporting the Socialist Party, abstaining from voting, or casting ballots for smaller parties – a situation that could ultimately lead to the rise of right-wing parties.
During his campaign, Sánchez has employed a high-risk “all on red” strategy, urging voters in provinces with only a few seats to strategically back his party, hoping to leverage the unfavorable aspects of the electoral system for smaller parties to consolidate support.
Ivan Redondo, Sánchez’s former campaign strategist, has expressed that over one million voters remain undecided. If Sánchez can secure the support of 80% of left-leaning voters from these smaller districts, the Socialist Party could still have a chance at reversing their fortunes.
Meanwhile, the political landscape continues to shift. Paco Camas from the polling agency Ipsos has pointed out that Vox is attracting a portion of disenchanted voters from leftist parties by championing the rights of hardworking citizens and protecting Spanish culture.
In stark contrast, the leftist party Podemos, which has seen its support plummet to just 1.9%, has refused to form an alliance with Sánchez’s party. Podemos leader Irene Montero has warned that the PSOE would “swallow” any potential allies given the opportunity.
This series of unfolding events and the persistent call for reforms reflect the urgent need for a recalibration of Spain’s political direction as the elections draw near.