Pedro Sánchez rules out meeting with pro-independence parties

In his round of talks to find support for his bid to be elected Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez has ruled out meeting with the pro-independence parties in congress.

The leader of the Socialists will leave the talks with the Esquerra (ERC) and Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) parties to the party's spokeswoman, Adriana Lastra.

Sánchez says he will only meet with the three main parties - Podemos, People's Party (PP) and Ciudadanos (Cs) - as "they're the ones that are really key" to him becoming president.

The leader of the Socialists also says that his aim is to form a "progressive" government that "does not have to depend on the independence parties."

As a result, Sánchez has called on Podemos, PP and Cs to show "responsibility" and not to block his bid and thus "tip the country into another election."

Despite winning the April 28 general election, Sánchez was unable to gain enough support in congress in his first attempt to be elected president at the end of July.