Spain’s Sánchez to hold press conference amid speculation over early election – Europe live

Morning opening: Spain's Sánchez to speak amid speculation over early electionJakub KrupaSpain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez is about to hold a press conference shortly amid speculation 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.Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez attends an extraordinary parliamentary session to vote on a government housing decree in Madrid. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty ImagesPolice officers secure the area as students arrive to attend their classes at the Camille Jullian secondary school in Bordeaux, France. Photograph: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty ImagesAnd 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.Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ukraine over the weekend. Photograph: dts News Agency Germany Bundesregierung/Tobias Koch/ShutterstockI 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.Key events5m agoSánchez speaks at La Moncloa15m agoMorning opening: Spain's Sánchez to speak amid speculation over early electionSánchez opens by saying that just over three years ago the electorate chose a progressive government following “the path of transformative ambition and social justice” that his government has been on since 2018 – despite various “unprecedented” emergencies and international challenges.He very clearly sums up his government’s achievements and work of the last few years, so I think it’s pretty clear what’s coming next.Sánchez speaks at La MoncloaThere he is. Let’s listen in.Jakub KrupaThe very format of Sánchez’s appearance this morning – “an institutional declaration” – is in itself a very heavy hint at what we are likely to see this morning.It essentially means it’s not a regular press conference, and the PM is unlikely to take questions – and he’s just there to tell us something important.Spain’s housing crisis has forced people to take to the streets, urging the government to regulate housing prices and protect vulnerable people Photograph: Jesús Mérida/SOPA Images/ShutterstockHis appearance comes after up to 500,000 protesters gathered in Madrid on Saturday to demonstrate against soaring housing costs.Public anger was triggered a week ago by the case of an elderly woman who had been forcibly evicted from her flat.Sánchez’s minority government in response had tried to pass two relief measures: restrictions on evicting vulnerable tenants and an automatic renewal on tenancies.But these were voted down by opposition parties in parliament on Friday. The rejection infuriated protesters.Morning opening: Spain's Sánchez to speak amid speculation over early electionJakub KrupaSpain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez is about to hold a press conference shortly amid speculation 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.Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez attends an extraordinary parliamentary session to vote on a government housing decree in Madrid. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty ImagesPolice officers secure the area as students arrive to attend their classes at the Camille Jullian secondary school in Bordeaux, France. Photograph: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty ImagesAnd 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.Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ukraine over the weekend. Photograph: dts News Agency Germany Bundesregierung/Tobias Koch/ShutterstockI 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.