Spain’s Socialists walk tightrope in government talks with pro-independence parties

After their pyrrhic victory in last months’ general election, left-wing parties seem more willing than a few months ago to set their differences aside and form a new government that would end the prolonged political deadlock in Spain.

Recent remarks by the Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez show he is confident to secure enough parliamentary support from Catalan pro-independence parties to stay as head of government — but the response to his words is also a reminder that doing so will be difficult, as the Socialists are walking on a narrow political tightrope.

"Any agreement will be made public and will always be ascribed to the democratic legality, the Spanish constitution, and Catalonia’s Statute of Autonomy," Sánchez said in a press conference on Wednesday.

The mention to the constitution was enough to upset Esquerra Republicana (ERC), Catalonia’s largest pro-independence party in Congress, and most likely Sánchez’s kingmaker.