The president of the Popular Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has demanded that Pedro Sánchez call general elections after the Congress of Deputies rejected the two housing decrees this Friday. During his appearance after the votes, he accused the head of the Executive of using the housing crisis to prepare for an early election and assured that his party is ready. "I am ready, we are prepared. For me, let him call them whenever he wants," he affirmed.
Feijóo has demanded that the president specify his intentions. "If he needs a narrative to call elections, go ahead. Does he think he has the alibi? Let him set a date," he declared. Faced with reports of possible elections on November 29, he warned that he would not be able to surprise the PP. "The escape must end here," he maintained.
Feijóo, sobre la votación de los decretos de vivienda: "Pudiendo fracasar una vez, han preferido fracasar dos. El tamaño de la derrota solo es comparable con la frivolidad imperdonable con la que han tratado el asunto" pic.twitter.com/umdlAcLkGg
— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) October 2, 2026
The popular leader has linked this request to parliamentary gridlock, discrepancies within the coalition, and corruption cases. "The decision to continue the entire legislature without public accounts, without the support of the Chamber, with tensions in the Council of Ministers, and subjected to the daily wear and tear of corruption is yours, but you have to know that Spain cannot take it anymore," he stated.
His main reproach has been that the Government would have brought the decrees to Congress thinking about their electoral consequences. "Today, a decree was not voted on to help Maricarmen or anyone. An excuse has been brought here to try to help Pedro Sánchez," he said, referring to the 87-year-old woman whose eviction has fueled housing mobilizations. "In its approval or its decline, there has only been electoral calculation. Nothing has been promoted thinking about citizens. Everything has been designed thinking about polls," he added.
Feijóo has declared the legislature exhausted. "Today it has been proven that Sánchez and his Government have neither the Cortes nor the street, neither Parliament nor the people," he affirmed. He also rejected that Sánchez could prolong his political project until 2031. "No one thinks about Pedro Sánchez until 2031 anymore," he assured, before adding that "no one wants" the president "this Christmas".
The leader of the PP has described the day as a "vaudeville" and has accepted that housing be a central issue of an eventual campaign. In addition, he has asked Sánchez to explain his management to citizens throughout the country and to stop blaming the opposition for the lack of housing.
The PP defends more construction and legal certainty
The popular party has defended its vote against, considering that the decrees would reduce the rental supply and make access to housing more difficult. During the debate, the deputy secretary of Finance, Housing, and Infrastructures of the PP, Juan Bravo, reproached the Government for trying to solve in four days a problem accumulated over eight years and for insisting on the same policies.
Bravo has cited increases of 74% in purchase prices and 45% in rents between 2018 and 2026, as well as a deficit of more than 700,000 homes, to argue that the priority should be to expand supply. He has also maintained that the measures would not have prevented Maricarmen's eviction because, according to his interpretation, the protection was conditional on lacking a housing alternative, and she had received proposals from the Madrid City Council.
The alternative he has put forward involves promoting one million homes in 48 months, streamlining urban planning procedures through a new Land Law, and strengthening the legal certainty of owners. The PP also proposes guarantees, tax deductions, and a reduction of the value-added tax (VAT) to 4% to facilitate young people's access to their first home. "Housing is not made cheaper with decrees; it is made cheaper with more housing," Bravo defended.
The party's spokesperson, Borja Sémper, insisted on this position during an interview on 'En boca de todos' on Cuatro. He called for freeing up land, accelerating licenses, and facilitating construction with the collaboration of developers and administrations. In his opinion, the Government has lost parliamentary and social support. The popular leadership also rules out that the rejection of the decrees will harm them electorally and attributes the protests to the wear and tear of Sánchez's management.
Sánchez opens a reflection with his partners
Feijóo's call comes after a double defeat for the Executive. The first decree, which included protection against evictions of vulnerable people and rental extensions, fell by 178 votes against and 172 in favor. It was rejected by the PP, the far-right Vox, Junts, and Unión del Pueblo Navarro (UPN). The second, on the automatic renewal of contracts, was overturned by 184 votes against 166, with the added rejection of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and Coalición Canaria.
Before voting, Sánchez intervened from the tribune to ask these groups to reconsider their position. "Do the right thing because history will judge you sooner than you think and with more forcefulness than you imagine," he warned. The president defended that the measures would help mitigate the housing crisis and held those who voted against responsible for the consequences of their fall.
According to government sources consulted by 'ElConstitucional.es', Sánchez is "calm" and will not call elections this Friday. He will open a period of reflection and listening with partners this weekend to assess the future of the legislature and the conditions for a possible early election. Moncloa also maintains contacts with Junts to try to regain their support for housing measures. The final decision will be up to the president.
While Sumar prepares a meeting this Sunday to study the new scenario, protesters gathered in front of Congress have called for a "general strike" after learning the results of the votes. Feijóo has reiterated his request to go to the polls. "For me, let him call them whenever he wants. For Spain, let him call them as soon as possible," he insisted.
