Socialists reject two years of PP government to 'deactivate' pro-independence influence

The Socialists have rejected a proposal from the conservative People's Party (PP) to let the right-wing party govern a two-year legislature in order to "deactivate" the influence of the pro-independence camp. 

Spain has been in a political deadlock ever since last July's inconclusive general election that left both the left- and right-wing bloc without a majority, but either side could potentially govern with the support of Catalan pro-independence parties. 

During a meeting between party leaders Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Pedro Sánchez, the PP head delivered a 12-page document to the Socialist chief with his proposal for the next legislature including six state pacts.

Feijóo insisted that "as has been the custom for the last 45 years" it is necessary for the Socialists to let the party that garnered the most votes govern, and he believes that in this way, "the influence that the pro-independence parties seek to have would be deactivated."

The People's Party consider that the two biggest Spanish parties "cannot allow the governance of Spain to become an auction item" and be subjected to "permanent blackmail" by those who "seek particular privileges at the expense and detriment of the majority of Spaniards."

The document also adds that the PP view the conditions expressed by the independence camp as "completely unacceptable."

Separately, Sánchez had asked Feijóo to commit to renewing the General Council of the Judiciary before December 31, whoever the president is. The judiciary's mandate has been expired for years as no deal has been in place to renew it. 

Socialists reject plan

Sánchez, meanwhile, is still intent on finding a majority among lawmakers to let him govern again. 

Spokesperson for the Socialists and acting minister of education, Pilar Alegría, expressed the party's rejection of Feijóo's proposal.

Alegría ironically asked if the People's Party were offering "a two-year deal with Vox to repeal 'Sanchism'." 

The minister also accused the PP head of seeking his own "political survival."

Proposal of six state pacts

In their proposal to Sánchez, the first state pact of the People's Party is a commitment to defend "the territorial integrity of the Spanish nation" and reject "requests for a referendum on independence and amnesty."

The second is a "pact of democratic regeneration" that preserves the "division of powers and the independence of control bodies," starting with the judges.

The third is a "pact for the welfare state" that guarantees the viability of the health system, the education system, equality between men and women, and pensions. 

The fourth is a "pact for economic recovery" that "guarantees the solvency of the most vulnerable and the middle class."

The fifth is a "pact for families" to "make conciliation possible" and work with social agents to find formulas to make work and family life compatible.

The sixth is a "national water pact" to guarantee "access to this basic resource."

Pro-independence parties seek amnesty and referendum

Catalonia's presidency minister, Laura Vilagrà, has before explicitly outlined that an amnesty law is the "essential red line" in the negotiations with the Socialist Party for any potential investiture of Sánchez as Spain's next PM.

Pro-independence parties want an amnesty for the acts for which various politicians and activists have been convicted of acts related to seeking independence for Catalonia. 

Vilagrà, of the pro-independence party Esquerra Republicana, which is governing alone in the Catalan executive, also added that the topic of self-determination must also be opened and that they work with these two objectives.

"We are very ambitious, but we know that it is possible. We have not lowered the country's aspirations by a single millimeter," the minister said last week.

The new speaker of the Spanish Congress, Socialist Francina Armengol, assured that she will guarantee that everything that is processed is done "in accordance with the law," responding to a question about how she would handle any potential debate over an amnesty law. 

The president of the chamber committed to guaranteeing "the rights of MPs and parliamentary groups," as well as "guaranteeing rich debates, with respect and dialogue." 

Meanwhile, Junts say that a referendum must be pacted in order for them to give their votes to any would-be Spanish PM. The pro-independence party set these conditions before the election and now say they are maintaining those lines.

In an interview with the Catalan News Agency, Míriam Nogueras said that it is the Socialists who need the votes and who "must move" from their position.

JxCat's spokesperson in Madrid added that an amnesty law that covers "all the lawfare," including the conviction of Laura Borràs for corruption while she was head of the Catalan Institute of Letters, must be incorporated into such an amnesty.