Spanish inauguration: the support of Carles Puigdemont, who demands amnesty for Catalan separatists, crucial for Pedro Sánchez

2023-11-02 16:41:40

WORLD – The Spanish interim government, led by socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is currently in the final stages of preparations for its second term. The current head of state, wishing to avoid early elections, aspires to start them next week (November 7-8).

Following his victory in the July elections, Popular Party leader Alberto Feijóo tried in vain to form a coalition strong enough for his inauguration. Faced with the lack of consensus, it is now the turn of the outgoing Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to take over to lead the country.

Pedro Sánchez has until November 27 to gather the parliamentary support necessary for his inauguration. However, the objective of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) is for his nomination to take place during the congress of the Party of European Socialists in Malaga, on November 10 and 11.

In this perspective, the PSOE recently reached an agreement with the left-wing Sumar party, led by Yolanda Díaz. However, it remains crucial to obtain the support of the Catalan independence party Junts per Catalunya, led by Carles Puigdemont, to consolidate this majority.

Political standoff

Since October 2017, Carles Puigdemont has evaded Spanish justice, going into exile in Waterloo, near Brussels, following the illegal referendum in Catalonia. This is why Brussels, and more particularly Waterloo, have recently been at the center of both national and international attention. Indeed, this is where the fate of the progressive government that Pedro Sánchez has been trying to put in place since July is at stake.

The conditions imposed by Puigdemont in exchange for his support obviously complicate the current negotiations.

One of Puigdemont’s main demands is the adoption of an amnesty law, allowing offenses linked to participation in the 2017 referendum to be erased. In other words, this would imply the abandonment of legal proceedings against supporters of Catalan independence, including Puigdemont himself. In addition, the Catalan separatist insists on examining the possibility of organizing a new referendum in Catalonia and on recognizing the “political conflict” in the region.

Amnesty and the future of the Spanish government

If these negotiations fail, Spaniards could be asked to vote again, probably in mid-January 2024 – an option Sánchez hopes to avoid at all costs. “Amnesty represents a means of progressing towards harmony and reconciliation between the Catalans and the rest of the Spanish people”underlined the Prime Minister during a statement on Saturday at his party headquarters in Madrid.” He added: “This is the only possible way for there to be a government in Spain”.

The scope of the amnesty discussed behind the scenes is currently unknown, but negotiations with Mr. Puigdemont “moving in the right direction” and will continue in the coming days, according to a statement published Monday October 30 by the Socialist Party.

Protests in Spain

Last Sunday, around 100,000 people demonstrated in the country’s capital. This mobilization aimed to protest against the amnesty of Catalan politicians. The mobilization, orchestrated by the Denaes foundation affiliated with the far-right Vox party, carried the slogan: “Against the amnesty and Sánchez’s coup d’état!”

The October 30 meeting in Brussels between Carles Puigdemont and Santos Cerdán, number 3 of the PSOE, also strengthened the opposition of the right and the ultra-right to the idea of ​​an amnesty law. This situation is sparking new protests across Spain this November. A new gathering is planned in Madrid on Saturday November 18, with the participation of Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Vox. The Cataluña Suma por España organization issued a call on October 31 for a demonstration on Sunday November 12 in Barcelona. On this same date, Pedro Sánchez could be invested with the support of the pro-independence parties, if an agreement was reached (the PSOE would prefer this to happen on November 8).

The electoral process and political negotiations in Spain

In Spain, general elections are held in accordance with the 1978 Constitution. The country functions as a parliamentary kingdom with a king as head of state and a Parliament consisting of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate. Members of the Congress of Deputies are elected by direct universal suffrage according to a proportional system based on votes for political parties. The party or coalition obtaining the majority of seats in the Congress of Deputies forms the government. The leader of this party becomes the candidate for the post of president of the government.

To be confirmed as President of the Government, this candidate must receive a majority of votes in the Congress of Deputies. If there is no clear majority, political alliances can be formed to form a stable government. Currently in Spain, the political situation involves Pedro Sánchez, leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), who aspires to form a government by obtaining the support of the Catalan separatists.