The most controversial points of the agreement between socialists and Catalan independentists to invest Pedro Sánchez

LOOK: Pedro Sánchez’s agreement with the Catalan separatists that has sparked protests in Spain

After weeks of intense negotiations, the PSOE reached an agreement in the Belgian capital with the seven votes of the Junts per Catalunya formation that were essential for its center-left coalition to remain in power, but, in exchange, it accepted an agreement that includes an amnesty bill for those involved in the separatist process. The controversial measure generated protests in several Spanish cities in recent days and had been harshly criticized by various sectors, mainly from the opposition and the radical right.

“Spain has lost, the independentists are winning and the PSOE has disappeared,” said Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Popular Party (PP), which, although it was the group with the most votes at the polls in July, did not obtain parliamentary support to win. with power.

The pact represents a great boost to Sánchez’s chances of forming another left-wing coalition to govern as a minority. The acting head of government also has the support of the left-wing Sumar formation, with which he has governed until now in coalition, and other Catalan, Basque and Galician nationalist and independence forces.

The signing between the PSOE and Junts per Catalunya was closed as the deadline approaches. If a government cannot be formed by November 27, parliament would be dissolved and elections called in January. The vote would be next week.

These are the most controversial points of the agreements between the socialists and the Catalan independentists.

1. Amnesties for separatists

To achieve the support of Junts and its rival Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya – whose support he obtained last week -, Sánchez accepted their demand to promote an amnesty law for their leaders and militants prosecuted by the Spanish justice system, mainly for their involvement in the attempted secessionist of six years ago.

The amnesty would benefit Puigdemont and dozens of people, from low-level officials to ordinary citizens, who found themselves in trouble with the law due to their role in the separatist attempt.

The agreement document establishes that the future amnesty, although not including “names,” will be for all those related “directly or indirectly” to the independence process “between 2012 and 2023.”

Puigdemont warned that the stability of the Spanish Government in the next legislature will depend on “a permanent negotiation” with the PSOE, since “an uncertain path is opening up and full of difficulties.”

Also supported by the extreme left and the Basque parties, the amnesty law must be adopted by Parliament, as soon as Sánchez is sworn in by the deputies, expected next week.

The PP and Vox strongly oppose the amnesty and have called for demonstrations throughout Spain to reject the measure, which is also opposed by many members of the judiciary. It will probably be subject to review by the Constitutional Court of Spain.

“Spain has lost, the independentists are winning,” thanks to their “blackmail,” launched Alberto Núñez Feijóo, while the head of Vox, Santiago Abascal, denounced “the beginning of the end of democracy.”

2. Self-determination referendum

The agreement also contemplates starting talks on the “national recognition of Catalonia.” Junts has stated that it will promote a self-determination referendum on the political future of Catalonia under the protection of the Constitution.

For this reason, a table has been agreed with an international mediator where Junts will demand a referendum, a request that the PSOE rejects.

“Despite agreeing to negotiate with the PSOE, Puigdemont has always maintained the self-determination referendum as an objective. Even Pere Aragonès, president of the Generalitat, stated in his speech in the Senate that the amnesty “is the starting point; destiny is to vote for independence,” says the newspaper “El Mundo”.

3. Day-to-day stability

The last point of the agreement refers to the “stability of the legislature” and establishes that it will be “subject to the progress and compliance of the agreements that result from the negotiations.”

Puigdemont has already warned Sánchez that stability “will have to be earned day by day”, something that puts pressure on the PSOE, which sought to achieve a legislative and not an investiture pact with the pro-independence parties.

“Unlike the last legislature, in which Pedro Sánchez had stability guaranteed from the beginning, now it will have to be earned agreement by agreement, day by day. Without compliance, the legislature will have no path and will end up in the trash can of History,” Puigdemont warned.