03.40 - Spain Today News 4 October 2026

🇪🇸pain Today reports on three major unfolding developments across Spain: political maneuvering over a potential snap general election, nationwide housing protests, and severe flooding in Catalonia..1 Potential Snap General ElectionPrime Minister Pedro Sánchez is weighing a snap general election following the parliamentary defeat of two key housing decrees on Friday, which were voted down 178–172 by PP, Vox, Junts, and UPN. Should a decree of dissolution be published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on Tuesday, 6 October, legal deadlines set the earliest possible election date for 29 November 2026. While elements within the PSOE favor capitalizing on housing protest momentum, left-wing allies raise concerns regarding electoral readiness. Meanwhile, Junts requested renegotiating the housing text, which the PSOE rejected on the grounds that key demands were already incorporated.2. Mass Housing Protests Across SpainOver 50 demonstrations took place nationwide under the slogan "Towards a general strike". In Madrid, turnout was estimated between 70,000 and 500,000 as crowds filled Cibeles to protest soaring rents and lack of youth emancipation. Nighttime confrontations in Sol involving far-right groups led to at least three arrests. In Valencia, 6,000 protesters gathered near a real estate summit, resulting in police charges, 5 arrests, and 9 injured officers.Significant rallies occurred in Granada (>10,000 participants), Malaga, and Galicia, while Barcelona's march was postponed due to extreme weather.3. Record Torrential Rains in CataloniaCatalonia experienced extreme autumn rainfall, with Barcelona recording its wettest single day in roughly 20 years. The Raval district accumulated 190.8 L/m², including 36.1 L in just 30 minutes. Regional authorities issued Es-Alert notifications across 20 comarcas. Regional President Salvador Illa warned of a mesoscale convective system acting as a "Mediterranean mini-hurricane," advising citizens to stay clear of rivers and ravines. The Besòs river discharge exceeded danger levels at 520 m³/s. Disruptions included widespread Rodalies train suspensions, highway flooding, metro station leaks, and hundreds of emergency calls.