Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called an early general election for November 29, following political setbacks for his minority government.

Sánchez announced the election on Monday after his government suffered a parliamentary defeat over measures aimed at tackling the country’s housing crisis. The defeat came as fresh public protests over housing conditions were being planned.

The prime minister’s Socialist Party is trailing the conservative People’s Party (PP) in opinion polls ahead of the election. Polling also indicates that a government led by the PP with support from the far-right Vox is among the possible outcomes.

Such a result could give Vox a role in Spain’s national government for the first time since the country returned to democracy following the death of former dictator Francisco Franco.

Sánchez has governed through alliances with several parties since becoming prime minister in 2018. His current administration has struggled to secure parliamentary support, passing limited legislation during its third term and failing to approve a national budget since 2023.

The government has also faced pressure over corruption allegations involving senior members of the Socialist Party. Sánchez secured another term in 2023 after reaching agreements with several political groups, including Catalan pro-independence parties, with an amnesty for separatist leaders forming part of the deal.

The prime minister has also maintained positions on immigration, Palestinian statehood and multilateral institutions. He has opposed US-led calls for European countries to increase defence spending to five per cent of GDP and has argued that immigration remains important to Spain’s economy and labour market.

The November 29 election will come amid continued political divisions over housing, immigration, corruption allegations and the future direction of Spain’s government.