Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at Spain’s failure to pass housing reforms, student-led protests across France, and widespread calls for the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Madrid’s Moment of Reckoning

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for snap elections on Monday, just days after his left-wing minority government failed to pass emergency measures to tackle the country’s worsening housing crisis. The election, to be held on Nov. 29, is likely to be risky, as Sánchez has never before led his Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party to an outright parliamentary majority.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at Spain’s failure to pass housing reforms, student-led protests across France, and widespread calls for the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Madrid’s Moment of Reckoning

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for snap elections on Monday, just days after his left-wing minority government failed to pass emergency measures to tackle the country’s worsening housing crisis. The election, to be held on Nov. 29, is likely to be risky, as Sánchez has never before led his Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party to an outright parliamentary majority.

Last week, tens of thousands of Spaniards took to the streets to protest skyrocketing rent costs and a lack of affordable housing. Symbolizing the movement was 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal, who was forcibly evicted from her home of seven decades after the investment firm that purchased her apartment increased her rent by 230 percent. Although Abascal’s legal team was able to successfully fight her eviction order, demonstrators have continued to demand stronger tenant protections.

On Friday, Sánchez tried to pass dual housing measures to quell public anger. The first would have frozen evictions for vulnerable tenants until 2030, while the second would have allowed automatic rent renewals without the possibility of rate increases or lease expirations. However, Spain’s conservative opposition voted down both proposals, arguing that federal intervention would lead to increased prices and fewer rental options.

This legislative defeat—coupled with corruption allegations against Sánchez’s inner circle and a recent........

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