The president of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno (main image), announced on Monday that regional elections will be held on Sunday 17 May, dissolving the Andalusian Parliament and formally triggering one of the most closely watched votes in Spain this year.
Moreno revealed his decision following an emergency meeting of his cabinet earlier in the day, a move that also cancels a scheduled government session this week in which four laws were due to be approved. The announcement, made from the Palace of San Telmo in Seville, comes after weeks of uncertainty over the election date and brings the vote forward by several weeks compared with earlier expectations.
Under Spanish law, elections must take place 54 days after they are called, meaning the official campaign will begin at midnight on Friday 1 May.
The Andalusian leader justified the timing as both practical and strategic, arguing it would maximise participation and avoid clashes with major events. The chosen date falls between key fixtures in the regional and national calendar, including the Feria de Sevilla (21–26 April), the Rocío pilgrimage (22–25 May), Corpus Christi (4 June), and a planned visit by Pope Leo XIV to Spain from 6-12 June.
It also precedes the start of the FIFA World Cup in mid-June, which could otherwise have overshadowed the campaign or its aftermath.
‘I hope and wish that this decision will facilitate greater participation and allow the people of Andalusia to speak with maximum clarity and normality,’ the right-wing People’s Party (PP) politician stated.
Moreno had repeatedly said he intended to complete the full four-year legislative term, something not seen in Andalucía since 2012. His current administration, in power since 2019 and reinforced by an outright majority victory in 2022, has been marked by relative stability, with four consecutive regional budgets approved and a total of 64 laws and decrees passed. ALSO READ: Spain’s main opposition party, PP, wins absolute majority in Andalusia election.
‘Andalusia has completed a four-year term with stability, confidence and good coexistence among Andalusians,’ Moreno said during the announcement.
He added that the reforms implemented over recent years had delivered tangible results, highlighting improvements in public services and employment, particularly among young people and women. According to Moreno, holding elections after completing a full term and approving multiple budgets reflects ‘normal democratic practice’.
Despite previously resisting pressure to call an early vote — even when political opponents lacked clear candidates — the decision to bring elections forward to 17 May is widely seen as an effort to capitalise on his current lead in the polls, while limiting preparation time for rival parties.
Surveys suggest Moreno’s PP is likely to win again but may fall just short of an absolute majority. Projections place the party between 50 and 54 seats, below the 55 required, raising expectations that it could need support from the far-right Vox party to remain in power. Vox, which secured 14 seats in 2022, is polling between 19 and 22 seats and could play a decisive role. ALSO READ: PP wins Castilla y León election, but needs far-right’s support – and PSOE improves its result.
Meanwhile, the PSOE socialists — who governed Andalusiaa for nearly four decades before Moreno’s rise — are projected to win between 23 and 26 seats, their weakest result in the region’s democratic history. Their candidate, Spain’s current national Finance Minister and the First Deputy Prime Minister, María Jesús Montero, is expected to step down from her ministerial roles to formally run.
With around 6.5 million registered voters across eight provinces, Andalusia is Spain’s most populous region, making the election a key test of the national political balance. A strong result for Moreno could intensify pressure for an early general election, while a poor showing for the PSOE would further weaken Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s position. ALSO READ: PP wins Aragón election, dependent on Vox after far-right surge; PSOE records all-time low.
The early timing, however, introduces an additional element of uncertainty, as shifts in public opinion could still emerge in the weeks leading up to the vote. ALSO READ: PP wins in Extremadura, but will have to depend on Vox to govern, as PSOE collapses.
Enjoying the news from Spain in English? Add us as a preferred news source in Google.
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
🔴 Las elecciones andaluzas serán el 17 de mayo.#Andalucía ha dado un salto de gigante en estos años y la estabilidad se ha convertido en nuestra seña de identidad.
— Juanma Moreno (@JuanMa_Moreno) March 23, 2026
Sigamos avanzando en prosperidad. pic.twitter.com/XNAnyYeW5u
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.