why Pedro Sanchez negotiates an amnesty law with the Catalan separatists

A second night of demonstrations took place in several cities in Spain on Tuesday to contest the proposed political agreement between the current Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the Catalan independence parties. At the initiative of far-right movements, nearly 7,000 people gathered in front of the headquarters of the Socialist Party in Madrid. The chamber of deputies had to be barricaded by the police.

It’s a risky bet that Pedro Sanchez is betting on. Since the legislative elections last July, the socialist leader has needed to come to an agreement with all of the small Spanish parties to be able to maintain a majority and remain head of government. A political game to which Spain is very accustomed. Historically the balance of power is so balanced between the right and the left that in the end the small groups – notably those established in Catalonia – end up making rain or shine by obtaining commitments in their favor from the future government.

It is a great favor that Pedro Sanchez intends to grant to the Catalan separatists. In the opinion of the opposition parties, the right-wing People’s Party and especially the far-right Vox, this is even an unacceptable favor. This is an amnesty law for all facts linked to the attempted Catalan secession six years ago. In October 2017, after a self-determination referendum – deemed illegal by the Spanish Constitutional Court – the president of the Catalan government Carles Puigdemont officially declared the independence of the region. Madrid had been forced to place Catalonia under supervision. All leaders responsible for organizing the referendum were subsequently brought to justice and convicted for “rebellion, sedition, embezzlement of public funds and disobedience to authority”. Then finally, the government of Pedro Sanchez pardoned them in June 2022.

A very political amnesty law

This amnesty law, at the heart of the negotiations between Pedro Sanchez and the Catalan parties, ultimately concerns only one man: Carles Puigdemont. He is still in exile in Brussels where he took refuge in 2017. And if no one really knows the precise content of the text currently under negotiation, the opposition is convinced that this law could allow it to return triumphant to Barcelona. A large part of Spanish public opinion does not want this. However, it is Carles Puigdemont who negotiates indirectly with Pedro Sanchez. The seven deputies of Junts, the Catalan independence party from which he comes, consult him regularly. Carles Puigdemont sees this as a golden opportunity to re-enter the political scene in Spain. For Pedro Sanchez, this is the only way to retain power. He has until November 27 to avoid new elections. A new election which would offer a new chance to an alliance between the right and the extreme right.