Pro-independence parties push for amnesty and historic deal during PM vote

On Tuesday's conservative leader's bid for Spanish prime minister, pro-independence parties have defended and pushed for an amnesty law and "historic deal" as they both presented their "number of reasons" to vote against Alberto Núñez Feijóo Feijóo.

ERC's spokesperson in the Spanish Congress Gabriel Rufián has defended that the first party benefited from amnesty would be the state and Spain's democracy. However, he has emphasized that "it has to set the bases for the next October 1 [referendum] that can allow Catalonia's self-determination."

Gabriel Rufián has also welcomed Junts into the "defense of past fights that they did not defend."

Puigdemont's party Junts, who find themselves in the role of kingmakers as their votes would be enough to push either candidate for PM over the line, has warned the Socialists that "there are not yet the conditions to get to an historic agreement" and that Sánchez will have to create them.

Miriam Nogueras, Junts' spokesperson in Congress, has added that there are no "legal barriers to do a referendum, what we lack is political will." 

Socialists: "PP have not understood anything"

On their turn to speak, the Socialists criticized the People's Party because "their continuous negative answer towards agreeing to find a solution shows that they have not understood anything."

According to Oscar Puente, the Socialist MP and former mayor of Spanish city Valladolid, who was chosen to make the party's speech during the debate, the People's Party wants to continue with their role of "pyromaniacs" in Catalonia as they "continue to look away when the conflict reaches unaffordable extremes."

Puente also disapproved of the People's Party "daring" to ask Socialist MPs to abstain in Feijóo's bid. "Do not waste your time looking for dissidents in PSOE," Puente said.

Acting prime minister Pedro Sánchez did not take part in the debate.

Vox: 'Dream republic' impossible

The leader of far-right Vox, Santiago Abascal, warned the pro-independence parties that their "dream republic" is not possible because "Sánchez's cheque has no funds."

He said his party's 33 MPs would vote for Feijóo, and called on the PP leader to work to deepen the collaboration between the two parties going forward.

Pro-independence parties and Sánchez's Socialists "will not be able to destroy our nation," he added.

Sumar: Feijóo 'setting Catalonia on fire'

Sumar spokesperson, Marta Lois, defended an amnesty as a tool to move towards a solution and dialogue and to "turn the page" on the political conflict in Catalonia.

The left-wing party, part of the coalition government in the previous term, accused Feijóo of resorting again to the strategy of "setting Catalonia on fire." 

According to Lois, Feijóo does not have the required support to be elected prime minister because "he has been the first in confrontation and the last in dialogue."