Politics · Spain · 2 hrs ago
Sánchez sets record for decree-laws issued by a Spanish prime minister
Pedro Sánchez has issued more decree-laws than any Spanish prime minister since Spain's 1978 Constitution.
By the dissolution of parliament on October 6, he had signed 214, and the government’s total since June 2018 was reported as 216, including a measure that might be approved that week.
A decree-law lets the government put a measure into effect without the longer process used for ordinary bills.
Sánchez’s total is about twice the 107 issued under Mariano Rajoy and the 108 under José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
The government plans to approve more measures before the November 29 election, including possible support for people with disabilities, victims of gender-based violence and terrorism, and pension increases for 2027.
Parliament’s permanent committee must review pending decrees by November 14, and some measures have already been rejected or face rejection.
Pedro Sánchez had issued more decree-laws than any other prime minister in Spain’s democratic history, according to El Mundo.
By 6 October 2026, when parliament was dissolved and elections called, Sánchez had signed 214 decree-laws.
The government had approved 216 decree-laws since taking office in June 2018, including one it could approve on 20 October.
Of those 216, Congress had ratified 197 and rejected 15, while others were awaiting review.
The government was considering further decree-laws before the 29 November election.
- Who
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his government.
- What
- Sánchez has set a record for decree-laws issued by a Spanish prime minister. The government was considering issuing more before the election.
- When
- The record was reported on 19 October 2026. By 6 October, Sánchez had signed 214 decree-laws.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- The government planned to accelerate the approval of measures with social impact before the election. The article says decree-laws avoid the longer process required for bills.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sánchez’s government began issuing decree-laws.
Sánchez pledged to give Parliament a central role and limit decree-laws, according to El Mundo.
Parliament was dissolved and elections were called; Sánchez had signed 214 decree-laws by then.
El Mundo reported that the government was considering further decree-laws before the election.
- Sánchez’s total by 6 October 2026
- 214 signed decree-laws
- Government total since June 2018
- 216 decree-laws, including one it could approve on 20 October
- Congress ratifications
- 197 decree-laws
- Congress rejections
- 15 decree-laws
- Rajoy comparison
- 107 decree-laws in six and a half years
- Election date
- 29 November 2026
What people are saying
give Parliament the centrality it deserves and limit the use of decree-laws
ordinary way of legislating