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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wants to stay in power. The path probably leads through an amnesty for the separatists.
The socialist Pedro Sanchez is currently conducting tough negotiations in order to remain head of government. At the center is a highly controversial question, namely how to deal with the Catalans who took part in the illegal independence vote in 2017.
The incidents at that time shook the cohesion of the state, says political scientist Berta Barbet Porta from the Autonoma University in Barcelona: “Many Spaniards are still offended and angry at the separatist forces and would like the idea of forgiving them now Acting as if nothing had happened is humiliating.”
Hundreds would be freed from penalties
However, this is exactly what is now up for discussion. Because if the socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wants to continue to govern, he needs the votes all separatist parties.
And they are demanding an amnesty – i.e. impunity – for the Catalan separatists. The most famous person who would benefit from this is Carles Puigdemont, the then president of Catalonia, who fled to Belgium to escape Spanish justice. But it’s not just about him, but about several hundred other people involved: civil servants, police officers, demonstrators.
Nobody can deny that the situation in Catalonia is infinitely better than it was in 2017.
Pedro Sanchez is basically ready to approach them. He has already made pardons possible in recent years and changed laws so that defendants can expect lighter sentences. That has proven successful, he says, and the situation in Catalonia is now “infinitely better than it was in 2017.” Sanchez sees an amnesty as a further step towards reconciliation.
Sanchez is not interested in reconciliation, only in staying in power.
Opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo from the conservative Partido Popular sees it completely differently: He accuses Sanchez of not being interested in reconciliation or a better coexistence in Spain. It’s just about staying in power. Feijoo complains that it contradicts the equal treatment of all citizens if a group that has committed crimes simply gets away scot-free.
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The opposition is already taking to the streets: thousands demonstrated in Barcelona at the beginning of October against a possible amnesty.
Reuters/Albert Gea
Whether it is an injustice or a step towards reconciliation – the possible amnesty is still being discussed in the coalition negotiations. In detail, it’s about how it is justified: As a conclusion to an illegal action, as the left-wing bloc around Prime Minister Sanchez would like to see. Or as a first step on the way to a new, this time legal, vote on independence, as the separatist camp would like.
If everyone were sensible, they would form a government.
The outcome of the negotiations is completely open, says political scientist Berta Barbet, adding that both sides must have great interest in reaching an agreement. “If everyone were sensible, they would form a government. Because it doesn’t look as if any party could benefit from new elections.”
The political scientist assumes that both sides will play poker until the last moment in order to get as much out of it as possible. You still have until November 27th. If Spain does not have a new government by then, elections will be held again in January.