Madrid, 6 November 2026: Podemos is offering support for a fresh investiture of Pedro Sánchez subject to three conditions. Lead candidate Irene Montero called for statutory rent caps, a price cap on staple foods and measures to prevent homes being bought for speculative purposes at a breakfast event in Madrid organised by Europa Press . If the Socialist meets these demands, Podemos would be prepared to become “part of a government” too, Montero said.
The statements were first published by elDiario.es . According to the report, Podemos is naming the following as priorities in possible talks with the PSOE: reduce or cap rents by law, regulate prices for essential foodstuffs and curb speculation in housing. Montero specifically referred to homes being bought not to live in, but to make a profit. She did not present any specific draft legislation or give a timetable for implementation.
Montero linked the demands to criticism of government spending on defence. She cited what she claimed was a €24 billion increase in the military budget as a potential source of funding, arguing that the money could be used for public initiatives such as state-run supermarkets or to nationalise strategic companies such as Repsol . These are political demands from the party; there is no confirmation that the government plans to pursue them.
Political context: Sánchez needs votes from the left to secure an investiture. With these demands, Podemos is positioning itself as a potential partner, subject to clear conditions. In housing policy, the party is pursuing earlier demands, such as tougher rules against so-called vulture funds and interventions in markets with a high level of speculative activity. At the end of October, Montero had already raised the possibility of expropriating homes held by funds. In tax policy, the left is also calling for higher taxes on large fortunes; former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau advocated a “tax the rich” levy on assets worth more than one million euros.
It remains unclear how far the Socialist candidate would support the list of demands set out by Podemos. Rent and food price controls are legally and administratively complex, and economically contentious; business associations and economists point to possible perverse incentives and reduced supply. Politically, the clearly stated conditions increase the pressure in negotiations and identify the issues against which Podemos will measure its support.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).