Politics · Spain · 4 hrs ago
Sánchez urges left-wing voters to back PSOE ahead of Spain's November election
Pedro Sánchez urged left-wing voters to concentrate their support on the PSOE ahead of Spain's general election on 29 November.
The call comes as parties to the left of the PSOE remain divided.
Sánchez said he had expected Gabriel Rufián's plan for a united left-wing alliance to fail, because Rufián's party, ERC, is pro-independence.
ERC has made an electoral pact with Podemos, while Frente Amplio plans to run separately.
Sánchez said he hopes the PSOE will improve on its 2023 result of 121 seats and mentioned 176 seats as a goal, a number that would give the party an absolute majority.
He also said housing needs a parliament willing to support public intervention, arguing that without such backing it is difficult to address the problem.
The election on 29 November will show whether voters heed his appeal and how the divided left performs.
Pedro Sánchez urged left-wing voters to concentrate their votes on the PSOE to help it win a broader majority in Spain’s November 29 election.
In a television interview, he said he was confident the PSOE could improve on its 2023 result.
Sánchez said he had not expected Gabriel Rufián’s proposal for a united left-wing candidacy to succeed, citing ERC’s independence stance.
ERC has agreed to run with Podemos, while Frente Amplio plans to contest the election separately.
Sánchez said a parliamentary majority supportive of public intervention was needed to address housing problems.
- Who
- Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, urged left-wing voters to support the PSOE.
- What
- He called for voters to concentrate their support on the Socialists ahead of the general election.
- When
- In an interview published on October 22, 2026, ahead of the November 29 election.
- Where
- On TVE’s La Revuelta programme in Spain.
- Why
- He said a broader parliamentary majority would help the PSOE govern and pursue policies, including housing regulation.
Sánchez and supporters of concentrated voting
Gabriel Rufián and supporters of a united left-wing candidacy
Electoral strategy
Sánchez and supporters of concentrated voting
Sánchez urged left-wing voters to concentrate their votes on the PSOE to secure a broader majority.
Gabriel Rufián and supporters of a united left-wing candidacy
Rufián proposed an alliance of parties to the left of the PSOE, with the leading force in each province heading the local list.
Prospects for unity
Sánchez and supporters of concentrated voting
Sánchez said he knew Rufián’s proposal would not succeed, citing ERC’s independence stance.
Gabriel Rufián and supporters of a united left-wing candidacy
Rufián’s proposal sought to prevent votes from being dispersed among left-wing parties.
Gabriel Rufián proposed an alliance of parties to the left of the PSOE, with the strongest force in each province leading its candidate list.
Sánchez discussed the election and the left-wing alliance proposal on TVE’s La Revuelta.
Spain is due to hold its general election.
- Election date
- November 29, 2026
- PSOE seats in 2023
- 121
- Majority figure cited by Sánchez
- 176 seats
- ERC agreement
- ERC has agreed to run with Podemos
- Frente Amplio
- Plans to contest the election separately
What people are saying
I knew that it was not going to fly. ERC is an independence party; I did not see ERC following that strategy.
If they gave me 176 seats for a year... If with what I have, which is 121, we have done all this...
It is very difficult to solve [the housing problem] without a parliamentary majority sensitive to public intervention.