MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s Socialists have reached a deal with the Catalan separatist Junts party for government support, a source close to the negotiations told Reuters on Thursday, a pact which could draw strong criticism if it involves amnesties for separatist activists.
Spain’s state-owned TVE television station and Barcelona-based La Vanguardia newspaper also reported the Socialists and Junts had reached a deal.
The PSOE did not immediately respond to request for comment, while a spokesman for Junts declined to comment. Asked about a deal on Thursday morning, Acting Economy Minister Nadia Calviño said: “I hope we have a government as soon as possible.”
Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his Socialist Party (PSOE) are trying to form a government after a July election produced no outright winner.
He reached a deal to govern in coalition with the hard left Sumar platform last month but also needs several other smaller parties – who have supported him in the past – to back him in an investiture vote that could take place as soon as next week.
Junts has said during negotiations that it would give its seven votes in parliament in exchange for an amnesty law that could exculpate as many as 1,400 activists and politicians involved in a failed attempt to separate Catalonia from the rest of Spain that reached a head in 2017.
The potential amnesty has met fierce condemnation from Sanchez’s conservative opponents who have organised large protests and accused him of putting the rule of law in Spain on the line for his own political gain.
On Wednesday, the European Commission’s Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders wrote to the Spanish government asking for more details about the amnesty agreement being negotiated.
“Serious concerns are now being voiced as regards ongoing discussions on the possible adoption of an amnesty law,” he wrote in a letter sent to Spanish Presidency Minister Felipe Bolanos.
“While for the time being there is no formal proposal, this has become a matter of considerable importance in the public debate and the Commission has been contacted on this matter, including by a large number of citizens.”
(Reporting by Graham Keeley; Editing by Alison Williams)
