Pedro Sánchez is betting on Spain’s housing crisis to win back voters as he calls an early election, but years of scandals, political controversies and criticism over his government’s handling of migration have steadily weakened his position.
A handwritten message on a piece of cardboard hanging from a makeshift stall in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol perhaps captures the mood better than any political analysis: “Who the hell do I vote for now?”
Sánchez can hardly be blamed for trying to reconnect with voters struggling with soaring rents. Housing affordability is a natural issue for a left-wing government seeking to position itself on the side of those under financial pressure.
But after eight years in power, Sánchez is facing a very different political landscape from the one that once allowed him to build a reputation as one of Europe’s most resilient political survivors.
The Spanish prime minister remains relatively young, media-savvy and an effective communicator. Yet a succession of scandals involving people close to him has increasingly overshadowed his political achievements.
Scandals close to home
One of the most damaging controversies has involved his wife, Begoña Gómez, who has faced an investigation over alleged influence peddling and misuse of public funds. The case has provided ammunition for the opposition People’s Party and Vox and forced Sánchez to defend his family as well as his government.
In April 2024, Sánchez briefly withdrew from public duties and announced that he needed several days to consider whether he should remain in office. He eventually returned, insisting that he was ready to continue fighting for his political project.
His family has remained a political vulnerability. His brother David Sánchez, a musician, was recently barred from public office for nine years after being convicted in a case involving allegations that his position was created specifically for him.
The controversies have added to a broader perception that Sánchez’s political circle has become increasingly entangled in legal and ethical disputes.
Several former officials and figures linked to the Socialist Party have faced investigations or convictions, while opposition parties have accused the government of allowing political connections to become a route to business opportunities.
Ceuta adds to the pressure
The latest challenge has come from the migration crisis in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the North African coast.
The arrival of tens of thousands of migrants placed enormous pressure on a city whose population is of a similar size. The government’s response was criticised as slow, with Sánchez himself away on holiday as the crisis unfolded.
Madrid ultimately relied heavily on cooperation with Morocco to manage the situation and facilitate the return of migrants, helping preserve relations with a key partner in controlling migration flows.
But the episode left an impression of a government caught off guard. Residents of Ceuta remain dissatisfied, while human rights groups have also criticised the authorities’ handling of the crisis, particularly the treatment of unaccompanied minors.
A difficult election gamble
Sánchez has sought to emphasise the achievements of his government, pointing to Spain’s economic and social performance and its international role on issues including peace and gender equality.
Announcing the early election, he acknowledged that his government had made mistakes.
“I know we have made mistakes,” he said.
For Sánchez, however, that admission may not be enough to reverse the erosion of support for the Socialist Party.
The party has been losing voters since the 2023 general election, while the political opposition has continued to exploit the scandals surrounding the government and the prime minister’s family.
Sánchez is now making housing one of the centrepieces of his campaign, hoping that anger over rents and the cost of living can outweigh voter fatigue with his government.
It is a strategy that fits a politician who has repeatedly survived political crises that appeared capable of ending his career.
But this time, the stakes may be higher. The message hanging in Puerta del Sol — “Who the hell do I vote for now?” — may prove to be more than a joke. It could become a reflection of a Spanish electorate increasingly uncertain about where to place its trust.
Be First to Comment