Spain’s Sánchez sees hold on power weaken as Catalan party backs out

The left-wing minority government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Spain is losing one of its allies in parliament, putting the future of his administration at risk.

The Junts party of Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont decided to cancel its support pact with Sánchez’s Socialist Party (PSOE), Junts confirmed to dpa on Monday.

The party’s 50-member board reached the decision unanimously at a meeting in Perpignan in France.

“We are going into opposition,” Puigdemont announced. “We will not help those who do not help Catalonia.”

Speaking on the future of the PSOE, he added: “They may remain in power, but they will not be able to govern.”

The board met in France, not Spain, because of outstanding arrest warrants for several members, including Puigdemont.

The party base still has to approve the break with the government. However, this vote on Wednesday and Thursday is likely to confirm the decision.

Without the votes of the seven Junts lawmakers in the Madrid parliament, the left-wing government would no longer have a majority to push through legislation, even if they have the support of other smaller parties.

According to experts, Sánchez – who has been in power since 2018 – could also face a vote of no confidence. It is also possible he could call new elections.

There are several reasons for the Catalans’ break with the prime minister, including one with a German link.

Sánchez had promised Puigdemont that he would campaign for Catalan to be recognized as an official EU language. However, these plans have so far failed due to German opposition in Brussels.

Another point of contention is the implementation of the amnesty law for Catalan separatists. Although several exiled politicians were able to return to Spain unchallenged after the law came into force last year, the judges have not yet cancelled the arrest warrants for Puigdemont and some others.

The 62-year-old former regional president has lived in exile since the independence referendum he initiated in 2017.