Sánchez calls snap election in Spain VIDEO

This election could mark the end of the EU’s last major socialist government and remove from the political scene one of the leading European critics of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Already weakened by corruption scandals that have shaken his Socialist Party, Sánchez suffered another setback over the summer when he faced sharp criticism over his handling of the ongoing migrant crisis in the North African enclave of Ceuta.

However, the painful issue of the lack of affordable housing — which tops the list of concerns among Spanish voters and has sparked protests across the country — ultimately prompted Sánchez to call snap elections, in what appears to be an attempt to seize the initiative on an issue he believes could work in his favor.

Opinion polls strongly suggest that the country could elect a government led by the center-right People’s Party, which currently has the support of 34% of voters, compared with 26% for the Socialist Party. The People’s Party would likely enter into a coalition with the far-right Vox, which is projected to win 18% of the vote, according to Politico’s “Poll of Polls” aggregate.

While his popularity at home has declined, Sánchez has gained significant international standing over the past year as one of the Western leaders who has most strongly criticized both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the conflict in Gaza and the situation involving Iran.