Comuns endorse left-wing pact to support Socialist candidate for Catalan president

Salvador Illa is another step closer to being named the new president of Catalonia.

After striking a deal with left-leaning pro-independence party Esquerra Republicana (ERC) on Monday, the left-wing Comuns Sumar have also endorsed a deal to give their support to Illa's candidacy to lead a Socialist government in Catalonia. 

The National Council of the Comuns validated the agreement practically unanimously.

The agreement includes provisions to construct 50,000 new social housing flats, a sanctioning regime for the law regulating the price of rents, and an agreement to modify the Spanish law on urban leases.

In education, the agreement also foresees increasing class time for students from five to six hours daily, and letting kindergarten up to the age of three be free.

In addition, the Comuns made clear that the government "will not facilitate" large-scale projects such as the controversial Hard Rock casino-hotel complex.

Next steps

With the support of the Comuns secured, the Socialists now need only to have Esquerra's votes confirmed to pave the way for Illa's presidency investiture. 

ERC will put their pre-agreement with the Socialist Party to their rank and file members on Friday for them to have their say.

If the deal is ratified, then the path will be cleared for an investiture debate as early as next week. 

Spanish PM: Deal 'opens new era in Catalonia' 

The Socialists have kept a low profile since the announcement, as it still needs to be approved by the members of Esquerra.

In fact, Salvador Illa has not yet spoken about the agreement. The Catalan Socialists will meet on Saturday, the day after the Esquerra members vote, and have said they will not comment on the agreement until the process is complete.

Sánchez gave his first reaction to the deal on Tuesday night, calling it "extraordinary" and saying it would open "a new era in Catalonia."

"I'm very happy, delighted," he insisted on Wednesday. "This is very good news for the Spanish political system."

The deal, which would give Catalonia control over all its taxes, is a risky move by Sánchez, as it could provoke criticism from other Socialist leaders in other autonomous communities.

However, Sánchez assured that equality between the territories is "guaranteed" and that the deal has "unanimous" support among the Socialists.

The Spanish PM also noted that the agreement represents an "undeniable" step towards the "federalization of the autonomous state."