Catalan pro-independence parties hold key to Pedro Sánchez Prime Ministerial bid

The Catalan pro-independence parties hold the key to a potential Socialist Pedro Sánchez Prime Ministerial bid if the left-wing candidate attempts to continue in the job for another term.

Junts and Esquerra Republicana (ERC) both won 7 seats in Congress, and those 14 representatives could be crucial to the future of the executive.

To elect a Prime Minister,  a majority of at least 176 votes in favor are needed in the first attempt. Pedro Sánchez's (Socialists - 122 seats) left-wing candidacy in coalition with Yolanda Díaz's Sumar (31), plus pro-independence ERC (7) and Basque parties EH Bildu (6) and PNV (5) add up to 171 votes.

This is where Junts becomes key. With their 7 seats, they could re-elect the Socialist as Prime Minister by either voting in favor in the first attempt, or else abstaining in a second attempt where only a simple majority is needed - more yes votes than no. 

For the right-wing bloc, the People's Party's Albert Núñez Feijóo would not have enough support alone (136) or with the votes of far-right Vox (33) and Navarra's UPN (1), as in total they garner only 170.

The scenario of a pro-independence party giving their backing to a right-wing coalition deal between PP and Vox is highly unlikely.

Junts secretary general, Jordi Turull, has called on all pro-independence parties and entities to take advantage of the "opportunity" the Spanish election result has left them with, opening the door to re-evaluating a united strategy. 

The politician pointed out that, right now, "he does not see support for a Socialist Prime Ministerial bid," given that Sánchez has categorically ruled out a referendum in Catalonia before. 

In an interview on Catalan radio station RAC1, Turull outlined the two key elements for them to negotiate: self-determination and amnesty. 

"This is a good situation for Europe to see that the independence movement is still strong," Turull added.

On Sunday night, Junts already warned that they would not back a Prime Ministerial bid from Pedro Sánchez in exchange for nothing.

ERC celebrates key role

After the Spanish election results, Marta Vilalta, ERC spokesperson, said the party will look to "build an alternative to defend Catalonia, but not to block."

"We want to use our power to defend and construct for Catalonia," she added, as ERC calls upon other pro-independence parties to unite and work together. 

"These are not the results that we hoped for, and on that, we will reflect. But now it is time to think and act for Catalonia, not for the party," she said, lamenting ERC's loss of 6 seats in Congress and 411,976 votes in total in Catalonia.

Vilalta celebrated that the right-wing parties PP and Vox will not be able to form a government: "We have been able to stop the threat that such a regression would mean for Spain."

Addressing the Socialists, Vilalta also outlined the party's demands to support a Pedro Sánchez PM bid: ending the fiscal deficit, transferring the management of trains, and continuing negotiations towards self-determination and an amnesty. 

Catalan Socialists asks Junts to "rise to the occasion"

The Catalan Socialist Party leader, Salvador Illa, has asked Junts to "rise to the occasion and the results", as "he does not believe that people want a repeat of the election."

In an interview with RAC1, Salvador Illa stated that "the election results endorse the dialogue between Catalonia and Spain, and not the road of self-determination or amnesty."

CUP asks to "assert independence's strength"

After losing their two Congress seats, far-left CUP asked both Junts and ERC to "assert the independence camp's strength, because it was a mistake to not do so when it was the moment." 

CUP's candidate for Barcelona, Albert Botran, also stated that the fight for self-determination "can not be set aside just because there is a threat of right-wing PP and Vox."

Regarding CUP's results in the election and the loss of their two MPs, Botran added that "it is important to reflect, but CUP has a long history and this is not the end."

Civic group wants to "weaken Spain"

Pro-independence civic organization Catalan National Assembly (ANC) called on parties to build a strategy to "weaken Spain with a block" until independence is reached. 

"The only focus of the pro-independence block in Congress and the formation of a government is Spain has to be to make the 2017 independence referendum effective," the entity added in their statement.

ANC has taken a tough stance on the pro-independence strategy in this last mandate. "They have given support to Pedro Sánchez without any pressure, confrontation, or any independence requirements."

Other parties

Aina Vidal, Sumar's candidate for Barcelona, asked Junts "to be clear with their words." She also criticized them as "everyone in Catalonia understands that not giving support to Pedro Sánchez on a presidential bid means giving a second chance to Vox and the far-right."

Vox's secretary general, Ignacio Garriga, assures that "once again, the governability of Spain is the hands of pro-independence parties." The far-right politician warned that "in order to stay in government, Sánchez is capable of proposing an independence referendum."