7m ago08.51 CEST
Morning Opening: Spain's Sánchez To Speak Amid Speculation Over Early Election
Jakub Krupa
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez is about to hold a press conference shortly amid speculations he is about to call a snap election to address a national housing crisis, after parliament rejected two of his government’s emergency relief measures on Friday.
The vote prompted tens of thousands to march in the street on Saturday, in the capital Madrid and other cities. Protesters were calling for action on rent prices and tenant protections.
Spain’s next general election had been due next year, and Sánchez had previously said that he would complete a full four-year term.
But the defeats in parliament have raised questions on how effective his government can be in getting through key legislation, and analysts say while there’s the risk with an early election, it might be worth striking while the iron’s hot.
We will bring you the details as soon as Sánchez begins his speech.
Elsewhere, up to 500 schools remain closed in France following nationwide protests against classroom conditions last week which also saw outbursts of violence and teachers attacked.
And Germany – Ukraine’s largest financial backer – says it will not be intimidated by Russian strikes after chancellor Friedrich Merz announced $1.1bn in military aid in his surprise visit to Kyiv yesterday, which was also marked by a drone strike on a city bridge.
I will bring you all the latest from across Europe here.
It’s Monday, 5 October 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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