Spain's Summer of Protest Picnics Leads Pedro Sánchez to Call Snap Election for 29 November

On 29 October 2026, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain declared the dissolution of parliament and called for snap elections on 29 November, attributing this decision to three years marked by "difficulties and hostilities" within a minority coalition. This announcement follows a series of summer protests concerning immigration and housing issues. A significant protest picnic took place in Valencia on 5 September, attracting hundreds in response to Mayor María José Catalá's seafront redesign proposal. Similar demonstrations were held in Palma de Mallorca and Madrid. In August, Spain recorded 12.3 million international visitors, reflecting a 9.2% rise. In September, 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal faced eviction due to a rent increase. A youth-led movement occupied Madrid's Puerta de Sol, advocating for eviction freezes and rental caps, as Sánchez's emergency relief package faltered and his party's poll numbers declined amid escalating rental costs.