Spain launches election campaign amid housing crisis and attention on Morocco

Yesterday 16:30

By: Azzat Manal

Spain launches election campaign amid housing crisis and attention on Morocco

Spain's election campaign is opening against a backdrop of mounting public anger over housing costs, political tensions and renewed debate over migration in Ceuta. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his conservative rival, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, are preparing to present competing visions for the country's future ahead of the early general election scheduled for November 29.

The housing crisis has become a central issue in the campaign following the death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, whose case sparked widespread public outrage. Reports that she had been forced to leave her home in Madrid after struggling to afford rent, which had reportedly increased more than fivefold, triggered demonstrations across Spain in late September. Her death in hospital on Wednesday added to the emotional and political impact of the case.

The controversy intensified pressure on Sánchez's left-wing government after parliament rejected two housing bills proposed in response to the crisis. The prime minister subsequently called an early election, turning housing affordability and tenant protection into key issues for the campaign. Across several Spanish cities, protesters continue to demand stronger safeguards for renters and measures to curb property speculation.

Sánchez is launching his campaign in Andalusia, in southern Spain, returning to Dos Hermanas, near Seville, a location closely associated with his political comeback. He previously campaigned there in 2023, when his Socialist Party managed to remain in power despite predictions of a conservative victory. The area also played a symbolic role in his return to the leadership of the Socialist Party after his resignation in 2016.

In comments published by Spanish news outlet elDiario.es, Sánchez argued that Spain needed greater social progress and fewer attacks from the political right. His campaign is expected to emphasise social protections, including measures intended to prevent forced evictions similar to the one that affected Abascal. Housing and the broader cost-of-living crisis are likely to feature prominently in his appeal to voters.

At the same time, Feijóo, leader of the opposition People's Party, is due to address supporters at Madrid's IFEMA exhibition centre. The conservative leader is expected to criticise the government's handling of migration, particularly in Ceuta, the Spanish city on the North African coast that borders Morocco.

During a visit to Ceuta earlier in the week, Feijóo promised to restore what he described as normality if his party came to power. He cited the arrival of more than 70,000 migrants on July 30 and 31, most of whom subsequently returned to Morocco, as evidence of what he considers failures in the government's approach. He has called for a major political change, while Sánchez's supporters continue to defend the government's broader social and migration policies.

Morocco may also feature in the political debate as Spanish parties assess the implications of the latest statements from Rabat. The timing of the campaign has drawn attention to the bilateral relationship, particularly given the strategic importance of cooperation between the two countries on migration, security and regional issues. However, the precise role Morocco will play in the candidates' opening messages remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Spain's major trade unions have called for a general strike on November 11, which would be the first such action since 2012. The call reflects wider discontent over living costs and housing pressures, while demonstrations under the slogan “Homes to live in, not to speculate with” continue in public squares and urban neighbourhoods.

Around 39 million Spanish voters are expected to be eligible to participate in the election. Polls cited in reports indicate that the People's Party is ahead of the Socialists but may fall short of an outright parliamentary majority. Such a result could give Vox, the far-right party and Spain's third-largest political force, significant influence over the formation of the next government. The campaign is therefore unfolding amid uncertainty, with housing affordability, migration and the country's political direction set to shape the contest.