What happened? The Prime Minister of this country resigns

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, after his defeat in the local and regional elections, resigned and announced early elections on July 23.

"Good morning. I will be brief and also try to be very clear. I have just made the decision to resign and we will announce the election on July 23rd.

The formal call for elections will be published tomorrow, in the Official State Gazette, so that the elections can be held on Sunday, July 23, in accordance with the deadlines established by law.

I made this decision based on the results of yesterday's elections. As the head of the government and as the General Secretary of the PSOE, I believe that it is necessary to give an answer and submit our democratic mandate to the will of the people.

Spain is about to overcome a crisis phase that comes from the Covid-19 emergency, also from the war in Ukraine. We are ahead of a clear path of growth, job creation and social cohesion, and at this point in the legislature the government has carried out the major reforms committed in the government program and also in our agreement with the European Commission.

Also, our country is preparing to bear a responsibility in this geopolitical context that Europe is experiencing, and it is the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

All these reasons require the will of Spanish men and women, a clarification of the policies that the nation's government must implement and a clarification of the political forces that must lead this phase.

 There is only one infallible method to resolve these doubts. This method is democracy and, therefore, I believe that the best thing is that Spanish men and women have the right to speak. Thank you very much," said Sanchez.