Pedro Sánchez: A Restart with the Same Error Messages

Pedro Sánchez has a rare talent: he turns political dead ends into dramatic performances. When parliament sinks his plans, the public gets the chance to deal once again with exactly the parties that could not agree in the first place. It is entirely legitimate democratically and remarkably elegant as communications. Going back to the start is sold as a bold step forward.

Sánchez is the politician who does not press "recalculate route" on the satnav, but sells the car, leases a new one and types in the same address. He has called snap elections before when everyone expected his downfall. Sometimes it even worked.

Other heads of government have a plan B. Sánchez has an election date.

Voters now get to decide whether they would rather look at the same problems from a new seating plan. The housing shortage, sadly, is not on the ballot. It simply stays.