Spain: PSOE and Junts agree to amnesty

Current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, leader of the Social Democratic Workers’ Party, has been tasked with trying to form a government after conservative Popular Party leader Alberto Nunez Viejo failed in his attempt at the end of September.

Since then, difficult negotiations have taken place between the PSOE and the Catalan separatist Gents party, which has demanded, among other things, an amnesty for politicians and activists on trial after Catalonia’s 2017 independence bid.

Now the two parties have reached an agreement, according to several Spanish media outlets, citing informed sources.

Majority for Sanchez

This means that Pedro Sanchez has a majority in the House of Representatives, which will enable the formation of the government.

The vote will take place in Parliament in the next few days, write El Pais. Sánchez’s government will also include Somar’s leftist coalition.

This announcement was not well received by the opposition:

– Today the Spaniards will face a shameful day. Pedro Sanchez wants to humiliate us, says Partido spokesman Coca Gamarra.

Recently, large protests have also taken place across Spain against the amnesty plans. Last Tuesday evening, clashes broke out in the capital, Madrid, between the police and protesters who broke through the barricades.

Message from the European Commission

On Wednesday, European Commissioner Didier Reynders asked the Spanish government for “detailed” information about the law negotiated by the parties, EFE news agency reported.

“Although there is no formal proposal at this stage, it has become a very important issue in the public debate and the Commission has been contacted on this issue, including by a large number of citizens,” he wrote in a letter to EU ministers. Representative government.