Spain’s Socialists Take Political Gamble on Controversial Amnesty Deal for Catalan Separatists
Spain’s socialist party, led by acting prime minister Pedro Sanchez, is facing a political gamble as it considers offering a mass amnesty to hundreds of Catalan separatists. The aim is to secure the support of the region’s parties and maintain the socialists’ hold on power. Negotiations are underway, with the socialists confident they can secure a deal without alienating the wider electorate.
However, the stakes have been raised by Catalonia’s regional parties, who demand an independence referendum as a condition for their support. If an agreement is reached, Spain could face four years of a minority government reliant on separatist pledges and support for passing legislation. If no deal is struck, a new election in January could potentially result in a center and far-right coalition taking power.
The scale of the challenge for the socialists is evident, as an amnesty could potentially cover over 1,400 people involved in the 2017 independence bid. This would be the largest amnesty in Spain since the 1977 blanket amnesty during the Franco dictatorship and the first amnesty law in the EU since 1991.
The proposed amnesty has generated mixed reactions, with around 70% of respondents opposing the idea, including 59% of socialist supporters. Additionally, 69% of respondents believe the separatist leaders committed a crime in 2017. Some argue that an amnesty would be against the country’s constitution, which does not allow for a general pardon. The conservative party has accused Sanchez of prioritizing power over the rule of law.
Sanchez has stated that he will act within the law, but details remain unclear. Sources suggest that the socialists are confident they can win over voters by obtaining concessions from the Catalonian parties, such as a promise not to repeat the unilateral independence referendum of 2017. The socialists are also pushing for the inclusion of police officers accused of excessive violence in the amnesty.
The most notable beneficiary of the amnesty would be Carles Puigdemont, the founder of Junts and former leader of Catalonia. Puigdemont fled to Belgium after the independence declaration and is currently fighting extradition to Spain. His return, free of charges and with the ability to run for office again, could pose challenges for Sanchez, who had previously vowed to bring Puigdemont to justice.
Both sides remain confident in securing an agreement despite the obstacles. Senior socialist official Alicia Romero highlights her party’s successful outcome in the 2021 deal that pardoned nine jailed Catalonian leaders. In that election, the socialists gained votes across Spain and won by a landslide in Catalonia. However, the recent joint resolution passed by the separatist parties indicates that their support now depends on creating conditions for an independence plebiscite.
Oriol Junqueras, chairman of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, believes that an amnesty is necessary to address the injustice committed by Spain and resolves the political conflict. However, he emphasizes that the amnesty would only be the beginning and that more balanced conditions are needed for a resolution.
As the negotiations continue, the socialists face the challenge of striking a delicate balance between securing power and addressing the demands of the Catalonian separatists. The outcome will have significant implications for the future of Spain’s government and the ongoing issue of Catalan independence.
