ERC and Junts agree only to support a Spanish PM if they plan to set referendum conditions

The main Catalan pro-independence parties, Esquerra Republicana (ERC) and Junts per Catalunya, have agreed not to support Pedro Sánchez's Prime Ministerial bid if the Socialist leader does not agree to "commit to work to make effective the conditions for holding a referendum."

The resolution on self-determination agreed between ERC and Junts says "that the resolution of the political conflict between Catalonia and Spain goes the political and democratic route."

As such, "the mandate that came out of the referendum on October 1, 2017, can be replaced by a new referendum agreed with the [Spanish] state."

The two parties, along with far-left pro-independence CUP, also agreed on another motion in support of an amnesty law, which is requested for those facing charges "for political reasons."

Both texts will be approved by the chamber this Friday as part of the general policy debate.

The amnesty text calls for the potential amnesty law to include "all people retaliated against for political reasons in this cause [of fighting for Catalan independence] and in defense of rights and freedoms in the context of the social and political conflict with the Spanish state."

Sources from ERC and CUP maintain that this definition leaves out cases such as that of Laura Borràs, the former parliament speaker who was suspended from her post after being convicted of corruption.

Socialists against proposal

The Catalan and the Spanish Socialist parties rejected the proposal hours after it was announced by Junts and Esquerra.

The group considered the proposal that it only focuses on "rupture and discord," and the party pushed for a "negotiation" within the Constitutional framework.

The party shared a statement without mentioning Junts and ERC's proposal. However, the Socialists focused on dialogue to "surpass the division and not to continue with the rupture and discord that have caused so much tension in Catalonia and in Spain."

"There is no moving forward if this is the way to go," the text added.