Southern Europe’s headline this week is Spain’s deepening housing crisis and its political fallout. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has moved up a general election to 29 November 2026 after parliament rejected emergency measures aimed at curbing soaring rents and evictions, a move that underscores how the crisis is reshaping the country’s politics. The issue was thrust into the national spotlight by the dramatic eviction of 87‑year‑old María del Carmen Abascal, who had lived in the same Madrid flat for 70 years; her forced removal sparked street protests and a broader outcry over housing insecurity. Her death on 8 October has intensified public anger and added moral urgency to the debate. Readers should watch the upcoming election campaign, the government’s response to housing‑related protests, and any new legislation or rent‑control measures that could affect Spain’s social stability and the broader Southern European region. [[1, 2]]