The former prime ministers Mariano Rajoy and Felipe González called at the Foro La Toja on Illa da Toxa (O Grove, Pontevedra province) to call early elections in Spain. Both argued that, following the rejection of two government decrees on housing policy in the Congress of Deputies a swift clarification of the political balance of power was necessary. President Pedro Sánchez should return the decision to the voters, they said in effect in their remarks.
Rajoy and González also proposed a cross-party “pacto de Estado” on housing policy. The issue cuts across ministerial portfolios and levels of government, and requires reliable rules that will endure beyond parliamentary terms. In their view, this includes measures to increase housing supply, clear conditions for investment and effective protection for households under particular strain. They stressed that the structural crisis in the housing market would be difficult to ease without agreement between the main parties.
The demands come against the backdrop of the worsening situation in Madrid after parliament rejected two government housing-policy decrees in the Congress of Deputies. Opposition groups joined forces to defeat the texts. This has fuelled speculation about an early election, although no official decisions have yet been made about specific dates. Dissolving the chamber would be at the discretion of the prime minister and subject to constitutional requirements.
With regard to Ceuta Rajoy and González called for a coordinated approach and institutionalised dialogue between the government and opposition. The issue was about safeguarding sovereignty and control at the border, as well as coordinated humanitarian and security measures. The two former heads of government warned against turning security issues into party-political battlegrounds and pointed to the need for a unified foreign and border policy.
The remarks at the Foro La Toja form part of a wider debate on ways out of the parliamentary deadlock. While supporters of an early election date insist on the need for effective government and certainty for planning, government representatives point out that bringing the election forward is solely a matter for the prime minister. Whether early elections actually take place and whether a cross-party housing pact is agreed will depend on further talks and parliamentary support.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).