Spanish acting PM to take position on amnesty after ongoing post-election talks

Spain's acting PM Pedro Sánchez will talk about his position on an amnesty for those cases related to the 2017 independence referendum after all the ongoing post-election talks end, even though he did not mention the word.  

The Socialists (PSOE) are currently "negotiating the vote for the prime ministerial bid with the other congressional parties," Sánchez said on Thursday morning ahead of an informal meeting of the EU Council in the southern Spanish city of Granada. 

The goal is to form a majority "for the prime ministerial bid, but also to have stability during the mandate," he added. 

PSOE started talks on Wednesday with the leader of the left-wing coalition Sumar, Yolanda Díaz, but so far, no other meetings have been scheduled. 

During the last mandate, Sánchez pardoned nine jailed Catalan pro-independence leaders, something which he considers as a "good decision that answered the common interest." This time, he will also decide based on "coexistence," but always "obeying the constitutional framework." 

"I am not a new prime minister, I have been in the post for five years and [the respect in Catalonia] has been what I have been obeying for during these last five years in very difficult circumstances," he added. 

Meanwhile, the leader of the Socialists in Catalonia, Salvador Illa, has said he is not looking for prominence in the negotiations after Sánchez said he would be consulted over Catalan issues.