Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez has called a snap election
The move comes after his series of measures to tackle the housing crisis was defeated in parliament on Friday
Those measures were drafted after nationwide protests, triggered by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home for failing to pay a sharp rent increase
The woman's rent was raised from €500 (£428; $572) to €2,650. It was later lowered to €1,650 - still €300 more than her monthly pension
Sánchez has been Spain's prime minister since 2018 - Spain was not due to hold a general election until summer 2027
Most polls suggest the conservatives are likely to emerge as the largest party in the next election, which will take place on 29 November
In central Madrid, protesters have been camping in the city's Puerta del Sol square - as this photo from earlier this morning shows.
As a reminder, people have been protesting across Spain over housing costs and renters' rights - and now, the crisis has led to an early election.
Image source, Reuters
Sergi Forcada Freixas
Pedro Sánchez says that, to push reforms through, "we need the support of the people" and "a broader progressive majority" that can "overcome the resistance of the elites".
As we've reported, the election comes after his government failed to secure enough support in Congress last week for a package of measures aimed at tackling the country's housing crisis.
Sánchez's minority government was unable to win backing from either its allies, or opposition parties, meaning the proposals - which included a ban on evictions - were voted down.
Sánchez has been Spain's prime minister since June 2018. Spain was not due to hold a general election until the summer of 2027, at the latest.
The Socialist Party finished second in the last election, in 2023.
Although the conservative People's Party won the most seats, it fell short of a majority. Sánchez remained in power after striking agreements with left-wing parties and securing support from Catalan and Basque nationalist and pro-independence groups.
Most opinion polls suggest the conservatives are likely to emerge as the largest party in the next election.
However, they would be expected to need the support of the hard-right Vox party to form a government.
After announcing the election, the prime minister says there is a need to "renew and broaden people's support" for the government.
He adds that Spain "must mobilise and ensure that parliament provides us with a much broader progressive majority".
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirms Spain will be heading to the polls on 29 November.
The next vote was originally scheduled for the summer of 2027.
Sánchez begins by saying Spain has faced several crises in recent years, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and multiple crises in the Middle East.
He says the coalition government has secured several successes, including a growing economy, despite attempts to "boycott" its progress.
"Spain has become a world example of peace, feminism and prosperity," he says.
The Spanish prime minister is now delivering his address to the nation.
As we've been reporting, Sánchez is expected to call for an early general election.
We'll bring you the top lines here and you can watch his speech in Spanish at the top of this page.
Will Spain's housing crisis lead to a snap election?
The expected announcement comes after weeks of protests across Spain, calling for greater protections for tenants.
On Saturday, about 50 marches took place on Saturday in cities including Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.
Nationwide protests broke out across Spain last month after an 87-year-old woman was evicted from her home in Madrid following a sharp rent increase.
A legal glitch allowed her landlord to raise her rent from €500 (£428; $572) to €2,650. It was later lowered to €1,650 - still €300 more than her monthly pension.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s leftist coalition government failed to pass emergency housing legislation on Friday.
The legislation included the suspension of evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030 and tax increases on tourist apartments.
It also included a decree on the automatic renewal of rental contracts, a major demand of many on the left and the Tenants’ Union.
Spanish MPs rejected the first decree by 178 votes to 172 and voted against the second by 184 to 166.
Image source, ReutersSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to call snap elections during a televised address scheduled for 09:00 local time (08:00 BST).
Sánchez has been facing mounting pressure in recent weeks, deepened by the loss of a key vote on housing measures on Friday.
The measures were drafted in response to nationwide protests over the eviction of an 87-year-old from her home, for failing to pay a sharp rent increase.
Sánchez's beleaguered government had already been mired in a series of scandals and judicial cases affecting his Socialist Party and close allies.
The Spanish prime minister currently doesn’t command a congressional majority.
We'll be listening across Sánchez's address and bring you his top lines and analysis from our correspondents.
