The 51-year-old premier prevailed in a vote in Spain’s hyper-fractured, 350-seat parliament, obtaining yea votes from every left-wing and separatist group. In all, 179 lawmakers backed Sánchez.
Sanchez's confirmation as premier ends four months of uncertainty since an election in July produced no outright winner. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, a candidate with the conservative Partido Popular (PP), won the most seats but failed to secure enough support from other parties in his own bid to lead the country.
The deals struck by Sanchez's Socialist Party (PSOE) include an amnesty law for Catalan separatists with pro-independence parties Junts and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), which has fueled a fortnight of protests and fierce condemnation from his opponents.
Unidentified attackers hurled eggs at a group of PSOE lawmakers having breakfast this morning near the Congress, prompting Jorge Pueyo, a deputy for PSOE's hard-left allies Sumar, to "resoundingly condemn this political violence for reasons of hate and those who foment it".
"They think they attack the Socialists, but no, they attack democracy," Patxi Lopez, the PSOE's parliamentary spokesperson, said of the egg-throwing incident during the debate.
Authorities said 15 people were arrested in a 2,000-person protest on Wednesday night outside the Socialist Party headquarters in Madrid following clashes with police.
CONTINUOUS NEGOTIATION
Many Spaniards are angered by the amnesty bill, which would exculpate politicians and activists who took part in an attempt to separate Catalonia from Spain that reached its apex in 2017. The bill was registered in parliament on Monday.
Feijoo, who accused Sanchez of undermining the rule of law on Wednesday called for mass protests on Saturday Nov 18.
Sanchez argued on Wednesday that an amnesty would help to defuse tensions in Catalonia.
However, the composition of the new coalition will mean that passing any legislation will require "continuous negotiation and strict adherence to the agreements, especially in the case of the Catalan separatists," Thinking Heads, a Madrid-based think tank, said in a report.
While the Socialists say the deals include guaranteeing "stability" in the legislature, there is no formal agreement to support the budget. It will be negotiated "in good faith", according to a senior Socialist source.
"If progress is not made, we will not endorse any initiative put forward by your government," Junts parliamentary spokesperson Miriam Nogueras warned on Wednesday.
Sanchez will also face pressure from separatists to authorise another independence referendum.
"The commitment to independence is unwavering," Nogueras said. "If anyone says that this agreement is about turning the page, they are deceiving the public."
19 comments
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Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyThird time lucky ? If so, it will end like the two previous ones. In disorder and disgrace, the President having resigned in disgust.. Then the Army will have to step in to sort things out. Again.
Spain is on its way to becoming a Republic.
Richard PearsonBack in 92 I managed a transition project up in Pamplona for a USA automotive group. Without exception the guys up there were seriously independent and referring to them as Spanish could be hazardous to health. Great part of the world though.
David HollandI think you will find that both Madrid and the Basque Country are wealthier than Cataluña, and that Madrid contributes more to the Spanish economy. Barcelona relies hugely on its exports to the rest of Spain. Would these continue at the same pace if the rupture was not amicable ? France makes a lot of the same stuff. Also, would foreign companies, not to mention Spanish ones, remain there after the separation ? Also it’s taxes would have to be increased to cover the additional costs that presently come out of the national debt. Speaking personally, I would be in favour of a separation. Cataluña has, for centuries, been a thorn in the side of the Kingdom of Spain, and has been a trouble maker and many times (like now) a deciding role in Spain’s national politics ever since 1976, and many would say a long time before that date as well.
Richard PearsonThe informal Catalan referendum did show support for independence but as you say in a real deal corks may not pop. The fundamental difference is that Scotland is dependent on England economically and runs a massive internal deficit. Catalonia is the wealthiest part of Spain and runs a surplus.
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyNot surprising if you take note of their proposed company taxes for foreign investors, not to mention the abusive income, wealth, patrimony and social taxes. If it weren’t for the EU, Spain would be in a worse financial state than Argentina, and that’s saying something.
The Bank of America shows Spain as having the lowest level of inward investment on their latest published listing. Not good.
David HollandIf an officially sanctioned referendum did take place in Cataluña (armed forces permitting), I have my doubts that the Catalan nationalists would garner sufficient votes to win. I think the final result will be very much like Scotland’s, thanks but no thanks. In twenty years time or maybe even less, the outcome could be entirely different due to the non native Spaniards holding the balance of power and being promised everything they could ever imagine if they voted to help make Cataluña an independent country. Thankfully I won’t be around when, in 40 years time, or again, even less, they will be in power and will control power. Of course the nationalists are too short sighted to even consider that this could ever occur. Bona sort a tots i a totes
Jules OLooks like a independent Catalonia.
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleySánchez, and the PSOE socialist party have just committed the largest corruption case ever known in Spain’s history. Even larger than the previous one (caso ERE) committed in Andalucía by the same party. They have just” purchased” 7 votes for the princely sum of 15.000 million euros, and their MP’s widely cheered and applauded this theft from the public purse. Woe to your local mayor if he or she attempted the same thing with, let’s say, only 1.000 euros, especially if they weren’t socialist ones. A prominent member of the last socialist government once proclaimed that “public money doesn’t belong to anyone”. She was right on this occasion.