Spain: electoral board opens proceedings against Prime Minister Sánchez
The Central Electoral Board views an appearance by Pedro Sánchez as campaigning from government premises. Meanwhile, Madrid's housing protest camp enters its third week.
Archive image · Photo: Pool Moncloa / Wikimedia Commons, Attribution (cropped and resized)
Spain's Central Electoral Board (JEC) on Thursday opened disciplinary proceedings against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. It asked for his statements to be removed from institutional channels and ordered him to avoid similar actions during the campaign. The case concerns a press conference on 6 October after a cabinet meeting, at which Sánchez announced new housing legislation. The opposition People's Party (PP) filed the complaint, arguing that he used government facilities to deliver campaign-style messages.
Sánchez called a snap general election for 29 November after his housing decrees failed in parliament. It is unclear what penalty he could face this time. The board has sanctioned Sánchez before: in January 2020 with a €500 fine over a TV interview published on the government website, and in October 2023 with a €2,200 fine over a press conference in Brussels during a campaign.
The housing crisis remains the dominant issue. Protesters have been camping in Madrid's Puerta del Sol for more than two weeks. The regional government wants the camp cleared and, according to its spokesperson, will use all legal avenues; the High Court of Justice of Madrid rejected an eviction request on 5 October. "We are at our most tired, but also more organised and more hopeful," a volunteer named Nacho told Euronews.