The governing Socialist party in Spain emerged as the winner of regional elections in Catalonia, seen as a test for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s amnesty measure for separatists. While the Socialists did not win enough seats to govern alone, they celebrated a significant victory that could lead to forming a regional government with an anti-independence party. Negotiations with pro-independence parties will be necessary to secure the 68 seats needed to form a government, with the outcome of these talks uncertain.
The pro-independence Junts per Catalunya, led by Carles Puigdemont campaigning from exile in France, came second in the elections but lacks the seats needed to form a government with other pro-independence parties. Conversely, the leader of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, Pere Aragonès, called the snap election after failing to pass a regional budget, only to win 20 seats and potentially face a new election in October. He attributed his party’s poor results to previous agreements with the Socialists that were not appreciated by voters.
The issue of amnesty for separatists has been a divisive one in Spain for years, with the proposal stalling in the lower house of parliament. Support for Catalan independence has fluctuated over the years, with the financial crisis of 2010 and austerity measures fueling populist sentiments in Catalonia. The standoff in 2017 between the separatist government and Spanish authorities led to a crackdown on separatist leaders, with some jailed and others, including Puigdemont, fleeing the country. Sánchez’s softer approach to the separatist movement in 2021 by pardoning jailed leaders may have influenced the recent election results.
While Sánchez’s amnesty proposal has been widely criticized in Spain, the positive election results for the Socialists in Catalonia may signal a shift away from separatist sentiments in the region. A study showed a rising percentage of Catalans supporting remaining part of Spain, indicating a potential disenchantment with pro-independence parties. However, the outcome of future negotiations and potential repeat elections remain uncertain, with the lasting impact of the separatist movement on Catalan politics still a key question.
Overall, the election results in Catalonia reflect a potential turning point in the region’s political landscape, with the Socialists claiming victory while facing the challenge of forming a government with pro-independence parties. The issue of amnesty for separatists remains controversial, with its long-term implications still uncertain. As Catalonia navigates this new era following the elections, the future balance of power and dynamics between pro-independence and anti-independence forces will be key factors shaping the political landscape in the region.
