Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez has called a snap election for 29 November, just days after rightwing parties blocked his minority government’s emergency measures on housing amid widespread protests

The conservative People’s Party is very pleased with the announcement.

“At last,” they say on their X, with a slick election video – set to the EU’s anthem “Ode to Joy” – to go along with it.

In a fierce address, Sánchez framed the election as choice between “regressing” under a “far-right coalition” or “keeping moving forward” with his progressive administration

This could go very badly for Spain. I really hope they will succeed where others have failed.