Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez has called a snap general election, asking voters to return him to office in a vote scheduled for next month.

The decision comes after a turbulent stretch in Spanish politics, in which coalition arithmetic and the positions of smaller parties have repeatedly forced the government into difficult votes.

The campaign will be fought in a fragmented parliament, where no party is expected to command a majority and a run of regional elections has already reshaped the landscape.

Analysts expect the campaign to turn on the cost of living, the pace of economic recovery and the government's handling of migration, issues that have divided Spanish voters sharply since 2023.