Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has dissolved parliament and called for new elections on November 20 — four months earlier than planned.

Mr. Zapatero also said Monday he would adopt new measures as needed before November's general elections to handle the country's troubled economy. Spain's more than 20-percent unemployment rate is among the highest in the 17-nation eurozone. Since August, the worsening financial crisis has forced Spain to enact more reforms in an attempt to stimulate growth.

Prime Minister Zapatero — a Socialist — has been blamed for being slow to react to Spain's worsening economic problems. Polls show the conservative opposition People's Party led by Mariano Rajoy is likely to beat the Socialists with an absolute majority in the November elections.

Mr. Zapatero announced in July he would not run for a third term. But he made it official on Monday by signing a decree and informing King Juan Carlos.