Spanish PM Sánchez faces snap election speculation after parliament rejects his emergency housing measures

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026.

Pedro Sánchez, whose government is reported to be weighing whether to dissolve parliament after MPs voted down both his emergency housing decrees by margins of six and eighteen votes.

Spain's Congress has defeated both of Pedro Sánchez's emergency housing decrees, with MPs voting 178-172 against the first and 184-166 against the second, deepening a political crisis that could trigger an early general election. The Catalan separatist party Junts joined the centre-right Popular Party and far-right Vox to sink the package. Sánchez's government is reported to be spending the weekend deciding whether to dissolve parliament.

The crisis was sparked by the televised eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her central Madrid flat after her landlord, Urbagestión, hiked her rent sharply.

Hundreds of protesters outside Congress chanted 'shame on you' and 'your profits, our misery' as the results were announced, with marches planned across Spain this weekend.

Sánchez warned lawmakers before the vote that 'history will judge you, and sooner than you think' — but the appeal failed to shift a single vote.

The GuardianSpanish right wing votes down housing crisis plans as protest movement grows BBC NewsSpanish PM Sánchez loses key housing crisis vote after eviction of woman, 87 APSpain’s government dealt a blow after parliament rejects housing measures amid protests ReutersSpanish government housing decree sunk in congressional vote The HeraldSpanish government loses first of two votes to ratify emergency housing measures East Renfrewshire NewsSpanish government loses votes to ratify emergency housing measures - East Renfrewshire News KTVNSpanish government loses first of 2 Parliamentary votes to ratify emergency housing measures - KTVN

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