Socialists reject pact with pro-independence parties to oust Rajoy

The Spanish Socialists (PSOE) have rejected forming an alliance with Catalan pro-independence parties to oust president Mariano Rajoy and form an alternative government. Instead, the party is seeking the support of Ciutadans, the fourth largest party in the Spanish parliament and a blatant detractor of Catalan independence.

“Ciutadans want a new election to be called, and this won’t be a problem. And they don’t want a pact with pro-independence parties, and there won’t be any,” said José Luis Ábalos, PSOE’s secretary of organization.

The Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez thus closes the door to opening talks with Catalan parties in order to get their votes in passing a motion of no-confidence against Rajoy, following the conviction of Spain’s ruling People’s Party in a major corruption scandal last week.