Next Spanish general election: Difference between revisions

The [[2023 Spanish general election|2023 election]] had seen [[Prime Minister of Spain|Prime Minister]] [[Pedro Sánchez]] and his [[Third government of Pedro Sánchez|ruling coalition]]—formed by the [[Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party]] (PSOE) and [[Sumar (electoral platform)|Sumar]]—being re-elected with the support of [[Together for Catalonia (2020)|Together for Catalonia]] (Junts), in exchange of a [[2024 Spanish Amnesty Law|controversial amnesty law]] for those [[Trial of Catalonia independence leaders|tried and convicted]] for events related to the [[2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis]] and the [[2019–2020 Catalan protests]].<ref>{{cite news |date=24 July 2023 |title=Spanish elections: Uncertainty hangs over future government |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/07/24/general-election-results-in-spain-leave-the-future-of-the-next-government-up-in-the-air |publisher=[[Euronews]] |access-date=24 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Monrosi |first1=José Enrique |last2=Ortiz |first2=Alberto |date=16 November 2023 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/pedro-sanchez-investido-presidente-gobierno-apoyos_1_10690636.html |title=Pedro Sánchez es investido presidente del Gobierno con más apoyos que en 2020 |language=es |newspaper=[[elDiario.es]] |access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref> This deal sparked [[2023–2024 Spanish protests|protests]], which were particularly violent in the days before Sánchez’s investiture as demonstrators stormed the PSOE’s national headquarters in [[Madrid]] with the involvement of [[History of the far-right in Spain|far-right organizations]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Riaño |first1=Miguel |last2=Coll |first2=Vicente |last3=J. Ollero |first3=Daniel |date=8 November 2023 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2023/11/07/654a89fefdddff2b448b457a.html |title=La protesta se radicaliza con ultras organizados, Feijóo culpa al PSOE del “malestar” y Sánchez blinda la amnistía: “No nos quebrarán” |language=es |newspaper=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]] |location=Madrid |access-date=27 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Requeijo |first1=Alejandro |last2=Farnós |first2=Andrea |date=10 November 2023 |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2023-11-10/violencia-ferraz-disturbios-pacto-psoe-junts-cargas_3771208/ |title=La violencia en Ferraz marca la protesta más multitudinaria tras el pacto con Junts |language=es |newspaper=[[El Confidencial]] |access-date=27 September 2025}}</ref>

The [[2023 Spanish general election|2023 election]] had seen [[Prime Minister of Spain|Prime Minister]] [[Pedro Sánchez]] and his [[Third government of Pedro Sánchez|ruling coalition]]—formed by the [[Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party]] (PSOE) and [[Sumar (electoral platform)|Sumar]]—being re-elected with the support of [[Together for Catalonia (2020)|Together for Catalonia]] (Junts), in exchange of a [[2024 Spanish Amnesty Law|controversial amnesty law]] for those [[Trial of Catalonia independence leaders|tried and convicted]] for events related to the [[2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis]] and the [[2019–2020 Catalan protests]].<ref>{{cite news |date=24 July 2023 |title=Spanish elections: Uncertainty hangs over future government |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/07/24/general-election-results-in-spain-leave-the-future-of-the-next-government-up-in-the-air |publisher=[[Euronews]] |access-date=24 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Monrosi |first1=José Enrique |last2=Ortiz |first2=Alberto |date=16 November 2023 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/pedro-sanchez-investido-presidente-gobierno-apoyos_1_10690636.html |title=Pedro Sánchez es investido presidente del Gobierno con más apoyos que en 2020 |language=es |newspaper=[[elDiario.es]] |access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref> This deal sparked [[2023–2024 Spanish protests|protests]], which were particularly violent in the days before Sánchez’s investiture as demonstrators stormed the PSOE’s national headquarters in [[Madrid]] with the involvement of [[History of the far-right in Spain|far-right organizations]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Riaño |first1=Miguel |last2=Coll |first2=Vicente |last3=J. Ollero |first3=Daniel |date=8 November 2023 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2023/11/07/654a89fefdddff2b448b457a.html |title=La protesta se radicaliza con ultras organizados, Feijóo culpa al PSOE del “malestar” y Sánchez blinda la amnistía: “No nos quebrarán” |language=es |newspaper=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]] |location=Madrid |access-date=27 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Requeijo |first1=Alejandro |last2=Farnós |first2=Andrea |date=10 November 2023 |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2023-11-10/violencia-ferraz-disturbios-pacto-psoe-junts-cargas_3771208/ |title=La violencia en Ferraz marca la protesta más multitudinaria tras el pacto con Junts |language=es |newspaper=[[El Confidencial]] |access-date=27 September 2025}}</ref>

Sánchez’s third term was dominated by a booming [[Economy of Spain|economy]] and a decline in [[Unemployment in Spain|unemployment]], albeit amid a rising [[cost of living]] and an [[affordable housing crisis]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Hedgecoe |first=Guy |date=10 February 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y7jmlyx02o |title=How Spain’s economy became the envy of Europe |language=en |publisher=[[BBC News]] |location=Segovia |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pons |first1=Corina |last2=Aguado |first2=Jesús |date=21 February 2025 |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/spains-booming-economy-brings-cold-comfort-some-2025-02-21/ |title=Spain’s booming economy brings cold comfort for some |language=en |publisher=[[Reuters]] |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref> but also by growing tensions with the [[People’s Party (Spain)|People’s Party]] (PP) and far-right [[Vox (political party)|Vox]]—accused by the government of staging “[[lawfare]]”, [[disinformation]] and [[harassment]] campaigns<ref>{{cite news |agency=[[EFE]] |date=28 January 2024 |title=Sánchez denuncia la “fachosfera” que intoxica la política: “La derecha está parasitada por la ultraderecha” |url=https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/nacional/sanchez-denuncia-fachosfera-que-intoxica-politica-derecha-esta-parasitada-ultraderecha_2024012865b61df7327cdd0001e4e575.html |language=es |publisher=[[laSexta]] |location=Madrid |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref>—which saw Sánchez to briefly consider his resignation in April 2024,<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Sam |date=25 April 2024 |title=Spanish PM considers resigning, blaming political ‘harassment’ of wife |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/24/spanish-prime-minister-pedro-sanchez-resigning-wife-investigation |language=en |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=Madrid |access-date=25 April 2024}}</ref> after a controversial judicial probe into his wife, [[Begoña Gómez]], for alleged [[influence peddling]] and [[Embezzlement|misuse of public funds]] charges presented by the far-right proxy trade union {{lang|es|[[Manos Limpias]]}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Sam |date=28 April 2024 |title=Spain’s PM Sánchez could quit after far-right attacks on wife and bid to ‘politically kill’ him |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/28/spains-pm-sanchez-could-quit-after-far-right-attacks-on-wife-and-bid-to-politically-kill-him |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Madrid |access-date=28 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=López-Fonseca |first=Óscar |date=20 August 2025 |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2025-08-20/el-cgpj-investiga-al-juez-peinado-por-su-polemico-interrogatorio-a-bolanos-de-abril.html |title=El Poder Judicial investiga al juez Peinado por su polémico interrogatorio a Bolaños de abril |language=es |newspaper=[[El País]] |location=Madrid |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=López |first1=Estrella |last2=Pérez Medina |first2=Alfonso |date=2 September 2025 |title=El juez Peinado y la instrucción contra Begoña Gómez: un sinfín de actuaciones polémicas que lo ponen en la diana del Gobierno |url=https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/nacional/juez-peinado-instruccion-begona-gomez-sinfin-actuaciones-polemicas-que-ponen-diana-gobierno_2025090268b74642936d5d7315b0af1c.html |language=es |publisher=laSexta |location=Madrid |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> Sánchez’s government had to deal with an unraveling situation at the international stage, with the [[Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)|Middle Eastern crisis]], the [[Tariffs in the second Trump administration|tariff policy]] of the [[second Trump administration]] and the ongoing [[Russo–Ukrainian war (2022–present)|war in Ukraine]]. Its vocal opposition to the [[Gaza genocide]] saw the [[Palestine–Spain relations|Spanish recognition of Palestine]] and a hardening of relations with [[Israel]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Landale |first=James |date=28 May 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cl77drw22qjo |title=Spain, Norway and Ireland recognise Palestinian state |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sánchez |first1=Escarlata |last2=Muñoz Morillo |first2=María |date=8 September 2025 |url=https://www.euronews.com/2025/09/08/spains-pm-sanchez-slams-extermination-of-palestinians-and-announces-new-measures-against-i |title=Spain increases humanitarian aid for Gaza and imposes arms embargo on Israel |language=en |publisher=Euronews |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> as well as pro-Palestinian protests condemning the latter’s participation in sports competitions (such as the [[2025 Vuelta a España#Final stage in Madrid|2025 Vuelta a España]])<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mallows |first1=Tom |last2=Skelton |first2=Jack |date=14 September 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/articles/crl5dele2wro |title=Final stage of Vuelta abandoned because of protests |language=en |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mosquera |first1=Pau |last2=Hallam |first2=Jonny |last3=Tawfeeq |first3=Mohammed |date=14 September 2025 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/14/europe/spain-cycling-protest-vuelta-gaza-israel-latam-intl |title=Final stage of Spain’s Vuelta cycling race suspended following pro-Palestinian protests |language=en |publisher=CNN |location=Madrid |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref> and the country’s [[RTVE]] joining [[Controversies of the Eurovision Song Contest#Israeli participation|others’ bid]] to withdraw from the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2026]] if Israel’s presence was confirmed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dom |first1=Evelyn Ann-Marie |last2=Mouriquand |first2=David |date=16 September 2025 |url=https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/09/16/its-official-spain-to-withdraw-from-eurovision-2026-if-israel-participates |title=It’s official: Spain to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates |language=en |publisher=Euronews |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Sam |last2=O’Carroll |first2=Lisa |date=16 September 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/sep/16/spain-eurovision-boycott-israel-gaza-war |title=Spain first of Eurovision ‘big five’ to say it will boycott event if Israel participates |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Madrid / London |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref>

Sánchez’s third term was dominated by a booming [[Economy of Spain|economy]] and a decline in [[Unemployment in Spain|unemployment]], albeit amid a rising [[cost of living]] and an [[affordable housing crisis]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Hedgecoe |first=Guy |date=10 February 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y7jmlyx02o |title=How Spain’s economy became the envy of Europe |language=en |publisher=[[BBC News]] |location=Segovia |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pons |first1=Corina |last2=Aguado |first2=Jesús |date=21 February 2025 |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/spains-booming-economy-brings-cold-comfort-some-2025-02-21/ |title=Spain’s booming economy brings cold comfort for some |language=en |publisher=[[Reuters]] |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref> but also by growing tensions with the [[People’s Party (Spain)|People’s Party]] (PP) and far-right [[Vox (political party)|Vox]]—accused by the government of staging “[[lawfare]]”, [[disinformation]] and [[harassment]] campaigns<ref>{{cite news |agency=[[EFE]] |date=28 January 2024 |title=Sánchez denuncia la “fachosfera” que intoxica la política: “La derecha está parasitada por la ultraderecha” |url=https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/nacional/sanchez-denuncia-fachosfera-que-intoxica-politica-derecha-esta-parasitada-ultraderecha_2024012865b61df7327cdd0001e4e575.html |language=es |publisher=[[laSexta]] |location=Madrid |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref>—which saw Sánchez to briefly consider his resignation in April 2024,<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Sam |date=25 April 2024 |title=Spanish PM considers resigning, blaming political ‘harassment’ of wife |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/24/spanish-prime-minister-pedro-sanchez-resigning-wife-investigation |language=en |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=Madrid |access-date=25 April 2024}}</ref> after a controversial judicial probe into his wife, [[Begoña Gómez]], for alleged [[influence peddling]] and [[Embezzlement|misuse of public funds]] charges presented by the far-right proxy trade union {{lang|es|[[Manos Limpias]]}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Sam |date=28 April 2024 |title=Spain’s PM Sánchez could quit after far-right attacks on wife and bid to ‘politically kill’ him |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/28/spains-pm-sanchez-could-quit-after-far-right-attacks-on-wife-and-bid-to-politically-kill-him |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Madrid |access-date=28 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=López-Fonseca |first=Óscar |date=20 August 2025 |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2025-08-20/el-cgpj-investiga-al-juez-peinado-por-su-polemico-interrogatorio-a-bolanos-de-abril.html |title=El Poder Judicial investiga al juez Peinado por su polémico interrogatorio a Bolaños de abril |language=es |newspaper=[[El País]] |location=Madrid |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=López |first1=Estrella |last2=Pérez Medina |first2=Alfonso |date=2 September 2025 |title=El juez Peinado y la instrucción contra Begoña Gómez: un sinfín de actuaciones polémicas que lo ponen en la diana del Gobierno |url=https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/nacional/juez-peinado-instruccion-begona-gomez-sinfin-actuaciones-polemicas-que-ponen-diana-gobierno_2025090268b74642936d5d7315b0af1c.html |language=es |publisher=laSexta |location=Madrid |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> Sánchez’s government had to deal with an unraveling situation at the international stage, with the [[Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)|Middle Eastern crisis]], the [[Tariffs in the second Trump administration|tariff policy]] of the [[second Trump administration]] and [[- ()| ]] Its vocal opposition to the [[Gaza genocide]] saw the [[Palestine–Spain relations|Spanish recognition of Palestine]] and a hardening of relations with [[Israel]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Landale |first=James |date=28 May 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cl77drw22qjo |title=Spain, Norway and Ireland recognise Palestinian state |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sánchez |first1=Escarlata |last2=Muñoz Morillo |first2=María |date=8 September 2025 |url=https://www.euronews.com/2025/09/08/spains-pm-sanchez-slams-extermination-of-palestinians-and-announces-new-measures-against-i |title=Spain increases humanitarian aid for Gaza and imposes arms embargo on Israel |language=en |publisher=Euronews |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> as well as pro-Palestinian protests condemning the latter’s participation in sports competitions (such as the [[2025 Vuelta a España#Final stage in Madrid|2025 Vuelta a España]])<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mallows |first1=Tom |last2=Skelton |first2=Jack |date=14 September 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/articles/crl5dele2wro |title=Final stage of Vuelta abandoned because of protests |language=en |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mosquera |first1=Pau |last2=Hallam |first2=Jonny |last3=Tawfeeq |first3=Mohammed |date=14 September 2025 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/14/europe/spain-cycling-protest-vuelta-gaza-israel-latam-intl |title=Final stage of Spain’s Vuelta cycling race suspended following pro-Palestinian protests |language=en |publisher=CNN |location=Madrid |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref> and the country’s [[RTVE]] joining [[Controversies of the Eurovision Song Contest#Israeli participation|others’ bid]] to withdraw from the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2026]] if Israel’s presence was confirmed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dom |first1=Evelyn Ann-Marie |last2=Mouriquand |first2=David |date=16 September 2025 |url=https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/09/16/its-official-spain-to-withdraw-from-eurovision-2026-if-israel-participates |title=It’s official: Spain to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates |language=en |publisher=Euronews |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Sam |last2=O’Carroll |first2=Lisa |date=16 September 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/sep/16/spain-eurovision-boycott-israel-gaza-war |title=Spain first of Eurovision ‘big five’ to say it will boycott event if Israel participates |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Madrid / London |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref>

Several [[political scandal]]s affected both PSOE and PP during this period: the [[Koldo case]], seeing the involvement of former [[Ministry of Development (Spain)|Transport minister]] [[José Luis Ábalos]] and PSOE’s organization secretary [[Santos Cerdán]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Blackburn |first=Gavin |date=12 June 2025 |url=https://www.euronews.com/2025/06/12/spains-pm-pedro-sanchez-apologises-after-top-aide-implicated-in-corruption-scandal |title=Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez apologises after top aide implicated in corruption scandal |language=en |publisher=Euronews |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hedgecoe |first=Guy |date=20 June 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3r1px50vvo |title=Spain’s embattled PM Sánchez defies clamour for resignation |language=en |publisher=BBC News |location=Madrid |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref> judicial probes into Sánchez’s brother for alleged [[cronyism]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=López-Fonseca |first1=Óscar |last2=Núñez |first2=Julio |date=29 January 2025 |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2025-01-29/la-jueza-apunta-a-que-la-diputacion-de-badajoz-creo-para-el-hermano-de-sanchez-un-puesto-a-la-medida.html |title=La jueza apunta a que la Diputación de Badajoz creó para el hermano de Sánchez un puesto a la medida |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> and [[Spanish Attorney General|Attorney General]] [[Álvaro García Ortiz]] for an alleged [[data leakage]] in a judicial investigation affecting [[Madrilenian president]] [[Isabel Díaz Ayuso]]’s partner.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rincón |first=Reyes |date=16 October 2024 |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2024-10-16/el-supremo-investiga-al-fiscal-general-por-revelacion-de-secretos-en-la-causa-del-novio-de-ayuso.html |title=El Supremo encausa por primera vez en democracia a un fiscal general del Estado |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> For the PP, scandals affected Ayuso’s partner for alleged [[tax fraud]], [[forgery]] and [[organized crime]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Guindal |first=Carlota |date=22 September 2025 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20250922/11085632/jueza-acuerda-apertura-juicio-oral-novio-diaz-ayuso-alberto-gonzalez-amador.html |title=La jueza acuerda la apertura de juicio oral para el novio de Díaz Ayuso, Alberto González Amador |language=es |newspaper=[[La Vanguardia]] |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> alleged [[Kickback (bribery)|cash-for-favours]], influence peddling, [[lobbying]], [[police misconduct]] and [[deep state]] networks operated by the [[Ministry of Finance (Spain)|Finance]] and [[Ministry of the Interior (Spain)|Interior]] ministries under [[Cristóbal Montoro]] and [[Jorge Fernández Díaz]] during the [[premiership of Mariano Rajoy]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Hedgecoe |first=Guy |date=1 July 2025 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/alberto-nunez-feijoo-peoples-party-pedro-sanchez-spain-snap-election/ |title=Feijóo’s now-or-never moment to lead Spain |language=en |publisher=Politico |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Burgen |first=Stephen |date=18 July 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/18/spain-peoples-party-alleged-multimillion-scandal-cristobal-montoro |title=Spain’s People’s party hit by alleged multimillion cash-for-favours scandal |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Barcelona |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Águeda |first=Pedro |date=5 March 2025 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/rajoy-pp-niegan-guerra-sucia-pese-diez-anos-grabaciones-documentos-sentencia-supremo_1_12106845.html |title=Rajoy y el PP niegan su guerra sucia pese a diez años de grabaciones, documentos y una sentencia del Supremo |language=es |newspaper=elDiario.es |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref> and [[resume padding]] involving a large number of politicians.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rocha |first=Carlos |date=2 August 2025 |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2025-08-02/dimisiones-cv-fake-desatan-sospecha-sobre-politicos_4184612/ |title=Las dimisiones por los currículums ‘fake’ sitúan una sombra de sospecha sobre la clase política |language=es |newspaper=El Confidencial |access-date=2 August 2025}}</ref> The mismanagement of a number of [[environmental disaster]]s by PP-controlled [[Autonomous communities of Spain|regional administrations]]—the [[2024 Valencian floods]] and the [[2025 European and Mediterranean wildfires#Spain|2025 Spanish wildfires]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Riveiro |first1=Aitor |last2=Monrosi |first2=José Enrique |date=18 August 2025 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/pp-repite-incendios-estrategia-dana-eximir-presidentes-autonomicos-responsabilidad_1_12542122.html |title=El PP repite con los incendios la estrategia de la dana para eximir a sus presidentes autonómicos de responsabilidad |language=es |newspaper=elDiario.es |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Munárriz |first=Ángel |date=24 August 2025 |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2025-08-24/covid-dana-incendios-el-pp-se-aferra-a-su-manual-para-desviar-culpas-crisis-tras-crisis.html |title=Covid, dana, incendios: el PP se aferra a su manual para desviar culpas crisis tras crisis |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Seville |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref>—a [[2025 Iberian Peninsula blackout|major blackout in the Iberian Peninsula in April 2025]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Twidale |first1=Susanna |last2=Chestney |first2=Nina |date=18 June 2025 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-caused-iberian-power-outage-what-happens-next-2025-06-18/ |title=Explainer: What caused the Iberian power outage and what happens next? |language=en |publisher=Reuters |location=London |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> as well as the issue of [[Immigration to Spain|immigration]] (particularly following the [[2025 Torre-Pacheco unrest]]),<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosas |first=Paula |date=15 July 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/ckglpjpxzwno |title=4 claves sobre lo que está pasando en Torre Pacheco, la ciudad española en la que grupos de ultraderecha persiguieron a migrantes norteafricanos |language=es |publisher=BBC News |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Faulkner |first=Conor |date=4 September 2025 |url=https://www.thelocal.es/20250904/spains-vox-mirrors-uk-far-right-with-protests-against-migrant-centres |title=Spain’s Vox mirrors UK far right with protests against migrant centres |language=en |newspaper=[[The Local]] |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref> also came under public scrutiny.

Several [[political scandal]]s affected both PSOE and PP during this period: the [[Koldo case]], seeing the involvement of former [[Ministry of Development (Spain)|Transport minister]] [[José Luis Ábalos]] and PSOE’s organization secretary [[Santos Cerdán]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Blackburn |first=Gavin |date=12 June 2025 |url=https://www.euronews.com/2025/06/12/spains-pm-pedro-sanchez-apologises-after-top-aide-implicated-in-corruption-scandal |title=Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez apologises after top aide implicated in corruption scandal |language=en |publisher=Euronews |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hedgecoe |first=Guy |date=20 June 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3r1px50vvo |title=Spain’s embattled PM Sánchez defies clamour for resignation |language=en |publisher=BBC News |location=Madrid |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref> judicial probes into Sánchez’s brother for alleged [[cronyism]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=López-Fonseca |first1=Óscar |last2=Núñez |first2=Julio |date=29 January 2025 |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2025-01-29/la-jueza-apunta-a-que-la-diputacion-de-badajoz-creo-para-el-hermano-de-sanchez-un-puesto-a-la-medida.html |title=La jueza apunta a que la Diputación de Badajoz creó para el hermano de Sánchez un puesto a la medida |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> and [[Spanish Attorney General|Attorney General]] [[Álvaro García Ortiz]] for an alleged [[data leakage]] in a judicial investigation affecting [[Madrilenian president]] [[Isabel Díaz Ayuso]]’s partner.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rincón |first=Reyes |date=16 October 2024 |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2024-10-16/el-supremo-investiga-al-fiscal-general-por-revelacion-de-secretos-en-la-causa-del-novio-de-ayuso.html |title=El Supremo encausa por primera vez en democracia a un fiscal general del Estado |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> For the PP, scandals affected Ayuso’s partner for alleged [[tax fraud]], [[forgery]] and [[organized crime]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Guindal |first=Carlota |date=22 September 2025 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20250922/11085632/jueza-acuerda-apertura-juicio-oral-novio-diaz-ayuso-alberto-gonzalez-amador.html |title=La jueza acuerda la apertura de juicio oral para el novio de Díaz Ayuso, Alberto González Amador |language=es |newspaper=[[La Vanguardia]] |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> alleged [[Kickback (bribery)|cash-for-favours]], influence peddling, [[lobbying]], [[police misconduct]] and [[deep state]] networks operated by the [[Ministry of Finance (Spain)|Finance]] and [[Ministry of the Interior (Spain)|Interior]] ministries under [[Cristóbal Montoro]] and [[Jorge Fernández Díaz]] during the [[premiership of Mariano Rajoy]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Hedgecoe |first=Guy |date=1 July 2025 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/alberto-nunez-feijoo-peoples-party-pedro-sanchez-spain-snap-election/ |title=Feijóo’s now-or-never moment to lead Spain |language=en |publisher=Politico |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Burgen |first=Stephen |date=18 July 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/18/spain-peoples-party-alleged-multimillion-scandal-cristobal-montoro |title=Spain’s People’s party hit by alleged multimillion cash-for-favours scandal |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Barcelona |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Águeda |first=Pedro |date=5 March 2025 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/rajoy-pp-niegan-guerra-sucia-pese-diez-anos-grabaciones-documentos-sentencia-supremo_1_12106845.html |title=Rajoy y el PP niegan su guerra sucia pese a diez años de grabaciones, documentos y una sentencia del Supremo |language=es |newspaper=elDiario.es |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref> and [[resume padding]] involving a large number of politicians.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rocha |first=Carlos |date=2 August 2025 |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2025-08-02/dimisiones-cv-fake-desatan-sospecha-sobre-politicos_4184612/ |title=Las dimisiones por los currículums ‘fake’ sitúan una sombra de sospecha sobre la clase política |language=es |newspaper=El Confidencial |access-date=2 August 2025}}</ref> The mismanagement of a number of [[environmental disaster]]s by PP-controlled [[Autonomous communities of Spain|regional administrations]]—the [[2024 Valencian floods]] and the [[2025 European and Mediterranean wildfires#Spain|2025 Spanish wildfires]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Riveiro |first1=Aitor |last2=Monrosi |first2=José Enrique |date=18 August 2025 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/pp-repite-incendios-estrategia-dana-eximir-presidentes-autonomicos-responsabilidad_1_12542122.html |title=El PP repite con los incendios la estrategia de la dana para eximir a sus presidentes autonómicos de responsabilidad |language=es |newspaper=elDiario.es |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Munárriz |first=Ángel |date=24 August 2025 |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2025-08-24/covid-dana-incendios-el-pp-se-aferra-a-su-manual-para-desviar-culpas-crisis-tras-crisis.html |title=Covid, dana, incendios: el PP se aferra a su manual para desviar culpas crisis tras crisis |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Seville |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref>—a [[2025 Iberian Peninsula blackout|major blackout in the Iberian Peninsula in April 2025]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Twidale |first1=Susanna |last2=Chestney |first2=Nina |date=18 June 2025 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-caused-iberian-power-outage-what-happens-next-2025-06-18/ |title=Explainer: What caused the Iberian power outage and what happens next? |language=en |publisher=Reuters |location=London |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref> as well as the issue of [[Immigration to Spain|immigration]] (particularly following the [[2025 Torre-Pacheco unrest]]),<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosas |first=Paula |date=15 July 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/ckglpjpxzwno |title=4 claves sobre lo que está pasando en Torre Pacheco, la ciudad española en la que grupos de ultraderecha persiguieron a migrantes norteafricanos |language=es |publisher=BBC News |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Faulkner |first=Conor |date=4 September 2025 |url=https://www.thelocal.es/20250904/spains-vox-mirrors-uk-far-right-with-protests-against-migrant-centres |title=Spain’s Vox mirrors UK far right with protests against migrant centres |language=en |newspaper=[[The Local]] |access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref> also came under public scrutiny.

A general election will be held in Spain no later than Sunday, 22 August 2027, to elect the members of the 16th Cortes Generales under the Spanish Constitution of 1978. All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies will be up for election, as well as 208 of 266 seats in the Senate.

Following the 2023 election, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was able to form a third government—formed by the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Sumar—with the support of Together for Catalonia (Junts), in exchange of a controversial amnesty law. Tensions with the opposition People’s Party (PP) and far-right Vox dominated Sánchez’s third term, as well as an unraveling international situation—with the Middle Eastern crisis, the Gaza genocide, the tariff policy of the second Trump administration and the ongoing war in Ukraine—economic growth amid a rising cost of living, a number of scandals affecting both PP and PSOE and the alleged mismanagement of a number of environmental disasters by PP-controlled administrations (particularly, the Valencian floods in October 2024 and the wildfires during the summer of 2025).

While Sánchez has admitted that he has twice hesitated whether to resign—one in April 2024, amid a judicial probe into his wife; and a second one in July 2025, after his second-in-command in the party, Santos Cerdán, resigned over the Koldo case—he has voiced his intention to run for a new term as prime minister in the next general election, which he has scheduled for 2027.^[1]

The 2023 election had seen Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his ruling coalition—formed by the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Sumar—being re-elected with the support of Together for Catalonia (Junts), in exchange of a controversial amnesty law for those tried and convicted for events related to the 2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis and the 2019–2020 Catalan protests.^[2][3] This deal sparked protests, which were particularly violent in the days before Sánchez’s investiture as demonstrators stormed the PSOE’s national headquarters in Madrid with the involvement of far-right organizations.^[4][5]

Sánchez’s third term was dominated by a booming economy and a decline in unemployment, albeit amid a rising cost of living and an affordable housing crisis;^[6][7] but also by growing tensions with the People’s Party (PP) and far-right Vox—accused by the government of staging “lawfare“, disinformation and harassment campaigns^[8]—which saw Sánchez to briefly consider his resignation in April 2024,^[9] after a controversial judicial probe into his wife, Begoña Gómez, for alleged influence peddling and misuse of public funds charges presented by the far-right proxy trade union Manos Limpias.^[10][11][12] Sánchez’s government had to deal with an unraveling situation at the international stage, with the ongoing war in Ukraine,^[13] the Middle Eastern crisis,^[14] the tariff policy of the second Trump administration,^[15][16] and Spain’s role within NATO.^[17] Its vocal opposition to the Gaza genocide saw the Spanish recognition of Palestine and a hardening of relations with Israel,^[18][19] as well as pro-Palestinian protests condemning the latter’s participation in sports competitions (such as the 2025 Vuelta a España)^[20][21] and the country’s RTVE joining others’ bid to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel’s presence was confirmed.^[22][23]

Several political scandals affected both PSOE and PP during this period: the Koldo case, seeing the involvement of former Transport minister José Luis Ábalos and PSOE’s organization secretary Santos Cerdán;^[24][25] judicial probes into Sánchez’s brother for alleged cronyism,^[26] and Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz for an alleged data leakage in a judicial investigation affecting Madrilenian president Isabel Díaz Ayuso‘s partner.^[27] For the PP, scandals affected Ayuso’s partner for alleged tax fraud, forgery and organized crime;^[28] alleged cash-for-favours, influence peddling, lobbying, police misconduct and deep state networks operated by the Finance and Interior ministries under Cristóbal Montoro and Jorge Fernández Díaz during the premiership of Mariano Rajoy;^[29][30][31] and resume padding involving a large number of politicians.^[32] The mismanagement of a number of environmental disasters by PP-controlled regional administrations—the 2024 Valencian floods and the 2025 Spanish wildfires^[33][34]—a major blackout in the Iberian Peninsula in April 2025,^[35] as well as the issue of immigration (particularly following the 2025 Torre-Pacheco unrest),^[36][37] also came under public scrutiny.

Under the 1978 Constitution, the Spanish Cortes Generales are envisaged as an imperfect bicameral system. The Congress of Deputies has greater legislative power than the Senate, having the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a prime minister and to override Senate vetoes by an absolute majority of votes. Nonetheless, the Senate possesses a few exclusive (yet limited in number) functions—such as its role in constitutional amendment—which are not subject to the Congress’s override.^[38][39] Voting for each chamber of the Cortes Generales is on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprises all nationals over 18 years of age and in full enjoyment of their political rights, provided that they are not sentenced—by a final court ruling—to deprivation of the right to vote.^[40]

For the Congress of Deputies, 348 seats are elected using the D’Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of three percent of valid votes—which includes blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Seats are allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Spain, with each being allocated an initial minimum of two seats and the remaining 248 being distributed in proportion to their populations. The two remaining seats are allocated to Ceuta and Melilla as single-member districts and elected using plurality voting.^[42][43] The use of the electoral method may result in an effective threshold based on the district magnitude and the distribution of votes among candidacies.^[44]

As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Congress multi-member constituency would be entitled the following seats (as of 12 December 2024):^[c]

For the Senate, 208 seats are elected using an open list partial block voting system, with electors voting for individual candidates instead of parties. In constituencies electing four seats, electors can vote for up to three candidates; in those with two or three seats, for up to two candidates; and for one candidate in single-member districts. Each of the 47 peninsular provinces is allocated four seats, whereas for insular provinces, such as the Balearic and Canary Islands, districts are the islands themselves, with the larger—Majorca, Gran Canaria and Tenerife—being allocated three seats each, and the smaller—Menorca, Ibiza–Formentera, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma—one each. Ceuta and Melilla elect two seats each. Additionally, autonomous communities can appoint at least one senator each and are entitled to one additional senator per each million inhabitants.^[46][47]

The law does not provide for by-elections to fill vacated seats; instead, any vacancies that occur after the proclamation of candidates and into the legislative term will be covered by the successive candidates in the list and, when needed, by the designated substitutes, of which the list may include up to ten.^[48]

Spanish citizens of age and with the legal capacity to vote can run for election, provided that they are not sentenced to imprisonment by a final court ruling nor convicted, even if by a non-final ruling, to forfeiture of eligibility or to specific disqualification or suspension from public office under particular offences: rebellion, terrorism or other crimes against the state. Other causes of ineligibility are imposed on the following officials:^[49][50]

Other causes of ineligibility for both chambers are imposed on a number of territorial-level officers in the aforementioned categories—during their tenure of office—in constituencies within the whole or part of their respective area of jurisdiction, as well as employees of foreign states and members of regional governments.^[49][50] Incompatibility provisions extend to the president of the National Commission on Markets and Competition; members of RTVE‘s board and of the offices of the prime minister, the ministers and the secretaries of state; government delegates in port authorities, hydrographic confederations and toll highway concessionary companies; presidents and other high-ranking members of public entities, state monopolies, companies with majority public participation and public saving banks; deputies and senators elected on candidacies subsequently declared illegal by a final court ruling; as well as the impossibility of simultaneously holding the positions of deputy and senator or regional legislator.^[51]

The electoral law allows for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election are required to inform the relevant electoral commission within ten days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors need to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they seek election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates. Concurrently, parties, federations or coalitions that have not obtained a mandate in either chamber of the Cortes at the preceding election are required to secure the signature of at least 0.1 percent of electors in the aforementioned constituencies.^[52] Amendments to the electoral law in 2024 increased requirements for a balanced composition of men and women in the lists of candidates, so that candidates of either sex are ordered in an alternative manner.^[53]

A special, simplified process is provided for election re-runs, including a shortening of deadlines, electoral campaigning, the lifting of signature requirements if these had been already met for the immediately previous election and the possibility of maintaining lists and coalitions without needing to go through pre-election procedures again.^[54]

The term of each chamber of the Cortes Generales—the Congress and the Senate—expires four years from the date of their previous election, unless they are dissolved earlier.^[55] The election decree shall be issued no later than the twenty-fifth day prior to the date of expiry of parliament and published on the following day in the Official State Gazette (BOE), with election day taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication.^[56] The previous election was held on 23 July 2023, which means that the chambers’ terms will expire on 23 July 2027. The election decree must be published in the BOE no later than 29 June 2027, with the election taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication, setting the latest possible election date for the Cortes Generales on Sunday, 22 August 2027.

The prime minister has the prerogative to propose the monarch to dissolve both chambers at any given time—either jointly or separately—and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence is in process, no state of emergency is in force and that dissolution does not occur before one year has elapsed since the previous one.^[57] Additionally, both chambers are to be dissolved and a new election called if an investiture process fails to elect a prime minister within a two-month period from the first ballot.^[58] Barred this exception, there is no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections to the Congress and the Senate. Still, as of 2025, there has been no precedent of separate elections taking place under the 1978 Constitution.

The tables below show the composition of the parliamentary groups in both chambers.^[59][60]

Below is a list of the main parties and electoral alliances which will likely contest the election:

Local regression trend line of poll results from 23 July 2023 to the present day, with each line corresponding to a political party.