Junts say they are 'far' from a deal after meeting with Pedro Sánchez over PM support

The spokesperson for pro-independence Junts per Catalunya, Míriam Nogueras, said that her party is still "far" the "historic commitment" they want to see from Pedro Sánchez to potentially give him their support to be named Prime Minsiter for another term.

Spanish politics has been in limbo since July's election, with the right-wing bloc failing to garner enough seats to form a government, giving acting PM Pedro Sánchez the chance to meet with other parties and try to collect enough support to govern another legislature. 

Speaking to the media after the meeting of nearly an hour and a half with Sánchez, Nogueras said that if the Socialists intend to do "what it has done for the last four years," they will not find the support of Junts, because "we are neither here to listen nor to do what has been done" so far, which "has been found not to have worked."

Junts have previously said they will not abstain in the voting for Sánchez's PM bid, they will either vote yes or no. 

Nogueras gave the acting Spanish PM the transcript of the conference that the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont gave on September 5 in Brussels.

That day in Belgium, Puigdemont outlined his party's demands in exchange for their support for Sáncehz, including an amnesty law as a prerequisite to begin negotiating the investiture. 

Nogueras affirmed that Junts will not accept an agreement that does not involve progress, because "if it is about doing the same thing that has been done and said for the last four years, the votes of Junts are not what they are looking for."

The Junts MP he avoided specifying the contents of Friday's meeting and whether amnesty was discussed. "We want to be very careful and we will follow the line that the party has set for weeks, which is not to comment" on the negotiations. 

Socialists evaluate meeting positively

Meanwhile, the Socialists positively evaluated the meeting with Junts.

Sources from the party pointed out that negotiations are progressing and they see a path forward to an agreement.

In any case, they warn that there are many calls and meetings yet to be held with many other parties, as well as plenty of "discretion" relating to the meetings.

In a statement, the Socialists reiterated their commitment to "coexistence, dialogue, and plurality" as a "road map" for the investiture.