Spanish government and pro-independence Junts reach deal on social measures

The Spanish government and the Catalan pro-independence party Junts have reached a deal to pass the social measures that were voted down in Congress last week.

Measures include increasing pensions by 2.8%, in line with inflation, and subsidizing public transport tickets.

The decree will also include banning evictions for vulnerable families, with the state paying compensation to property owners.

The agreement between both parties arrived minutes before the weekly cabinet meeting, held on Tuesdays, which was delayed to leave room for negotiating.

Due to the 'No' votes in Congress from Junts, Spain's conservative People's Party, and far-right Vox, last week's decree did not go through, and public transport ticket prices were expected to increase in Barcelona from February 10. This was due to the end of the 30% subsidy funded by the Spanish government. The 20% subsidy funded by regional authorities was expected to remain in place.

Junts resume talks

Following Tuesday’s agreement between the Spanish government and Junts, the pro-independence party has resumed talks with the Socialists. These talks had been suspended in protest over a lack of progress, as Junts leader Carles Puigdemont announced in Brussels earlier this month.

Junts have agreed their support for a more limited, focused decree than the one they rejected in last week's Congress vote. In return, the Socialists have agreed that next week the Congress Bureau will process Junts' proposal for Sánchez to face a vote of confidence,  although with the text altered.  

According a Junts party source, the Bureau will approve a proposal "with more legal wording that says the same thing."

Regarding the decree, Puigdemont's party said that it includes the increase to pensions, public transport subsidies, aid for the elderly and measures "to combat criminal occupations [of property]." Other measures related to taxes are excluded, to be negotiated at a later date.

Sánchez rules out confidence vote

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed the agreement reached with Junts for the approval of a new decree which he said contains "practically all" of the measures that Congress rejected last week.

Sánchez defended the capacity of his government to reach agreements despite the "difficulties" of a minority government.

"We never throw in the towel, we sweat until the final whistle," Sánchez said.

As for the confidence vote, he pointed out that the text the Bureau will process will state that such a vote is the prerogative of the Prime Minister.

Even if the issue is debated in Congress, he said, he will not submit to a vote of confidence because his government "does not see it necessary to do so."

Noise of democracy

Sánchez thanked the other parties for being "capable of thinking about the general interest," despite their disparate positions.

Although the "noise of democracy may seem uncomfortable," he said, in reference to the debate generated by last week's Congress defeat, "it will always be infinitely better than the silence of autocracies."