India, Oct. 5 -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced early elections Monday after his government suffered a bruising legislative defeat last week over emergency measures related to the country's housing crisis.

The election will be held on Nov. 29.

In recent weeks, Spaniards have demanded government action on housing affordability, with protests held in cities across the country. Public anger intensified after the televised eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid last month.

Right-wing opposition parties joined forces to block two emergency decrees in Parliament that included measures to reduce evictions and curb real estate speculation. The setback fueled speculation that Sanchez could bring forward a national election s...