MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has unexpectedly called for a snap election on July 23, just a day after his Socialist Party suffered a significant defeat in local and regional elections. Sunday’s polls, considered a precursor to the anticipated general election later this year, witnessed the main opposition Popular Party (PP) securing the highest number of votes.
The right-wing PP also made substantial gains at the regional level, winning control over six regions previously held by the Socialists, including Valencia and the Balearic Islands, which includes the popular tourist destination of Ibiza.
In a televised address, Sanchez, sounding somber, announced that he had informed King Felipe VI of his decision to dissolve parliament and call for a general election on July 23, “in light of the results of yesterday’s elections.” He took responsibility for the outcome and expressed the need to respond to the will of the people.
Sanchez stated that the election was necessary to seek clarity on the policies the government should pursue and which political forces should lead the nation in this phase. Notably, the snap election will take place approximately three weeks after Spain assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union on July 1.
Oriol Bartomeus, a professor of politics at the Barcelona Autonomous University, commented on Sanchez’s decision, saying, “He is facing a dismal defeat, and now he’s changed the playing field. The alternative was six months of governmental bloodletting, and he has decided to gamble it all.”
Spanish PM Facing Challenges
Since taking office in 2018, Sanchez has encountered several challenges, including voter fatigue with his left-wing government, economic concerns such as inflation and falling purchasing power, and ongoing crises within his coalition partner, Podemos, a hard-left party that also suffered losses in the recent election.
In the municipal elections, the PP secured over seven million votes (31.52 percent), while the Socialists garnered nearly 6.3 million votes (28.11 percent). PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo hailed the victory as a clear one, proclaiming that Spain had taken its first steps toward a new political era.
However, the PP will likely need the support of the far-right party Vox to govern in several regions, posing a challenge for Feijoo. Vox, the third-largest party in parliament, aims to become an essential partner for the PP at both regional and national levels.
Sanchez hopes to mobilize voters by highlighting the potential alliance between the PP and Vox at the national level. Analysts speculate on the impact of negotiations with Vox on the PP’s voter base and its ability to mobilize centrist voters.
Sanchez had recently unveiled various measures, including affordable housing for the youth, increased healthcare funding, and discounted cinema tickets for pensioners, in an attempt to win over voters. However, despite Spain’s relatively strong economic performance compared to other major eurozone countries, voters seemed unconvinced by Sanchez’s handling of the economy.
