PSOE and Sumar sign coalition agreement, omit key point for Catalan backing

Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and progressive Socialist leader and acting Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz overcame their disagreement over extending the working week and signed a coalition agreement on Tuesday which fails to mention the introduction of an amnesty law for those involved in the 2017 secessionist attempt in Catalonia despite it being essential for the Socialist candidate’s return to power.

At the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, Sánchez (PSOE/S&D) and Díaz announced the news in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“It is time to form a new progressive coalition government. I say this with all the (…) hope,” said Sánchez, adding that “we (PSOE and Sumar) are going to be in government for another four years.” This comes after the previous four years of government between PSOE and the almost defunct Unidas Podemos (now integrated into Sumar) which noted it been informed of the pact.

“With all our hopes, dear president, we are going for more. I am committed to telling our country, the Spanish people, that we will govern better”, Díaz stated.

But Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of Partido Popular (PP/EPP), the main opposition force in parliament, said the agreement was “a dead letter” and “(it) says more about what has not been done in the government in recent years than about what they say they want to do together”, he stressed.

A clear message: no to the far-right of VOX

With the pact, the two left-wing leaders believe they are responding to the “clear message” given by Spaniards in the snap general election on 23 July: “The rejection of a right-wing and far-right government in Spain, and the mandate to continue advancing rights and freedoms”.

But the agreement does not mention a future amnesty law for those involved in the events of October 2017, as demanded by Catalan separatist parties to support Sánchez or the holding of a referendum on self-determination for Catalonia.

However, discreet negotiations are currently underway, according to Spanish media.

Although Catalonia is not directly mentioned in the text, the pact underlines the common goal of “strengthening territorial cohesion and coexistence among the peoples of Spain”, which amounts to an indirect reference to the political demands of the prosperous Spanish region.

The text of the 48-page pact includes agreements in various economic, social, educational, health and administrative areas and also calls for a new funding model for Spain’s 17 autonomous communities (Comunidades Autónomas), including Catalonia.

Although everything was in place for the agreement to be announced on Monday evening, there were still issues to be resolved, particularly on social and labour issues, including reducing the working week to 37.5 hours.

Focus on social and labour policies

Speaking about the agreement on Tuesday, Pepe Álvarez, general secretary of one of Spain’s main unions, the UGT, said it was “positive”, although he stressed that his union’s objective was a 35-hour working week.

Both parties pointed out that the pact will apply for a four-year legislature and will allow Spain to “continue to grow sustainably, with quality employment, developing policies based on social and climate justice, and extending rights, feminist conquests and freedoms”.

One of the most ambitious goals for both parties will be to create the basis for Spain to achieve full employment in the next legislature, as the country currently has an unemployment rate of 15%. Other social policy goals include the immediate implementation of a shock plan against youth unemployment (28.34% in 2022) and the strengthening of the public health system to reduce waiting lists.

The hardest part is still to come

The agreement also foresees an increase in the public housing stock to reach 20% of the total stock, the extension of paid parental leave and the extension of education to all children aged 0-3, with the guarantee that access to public education for two-year-olds will be for everyone by the end of the legislature, by 2027.

It also includes a “fair tax reform” that would make banks and large energy companies contribute more to public spending.

To be sworn in, Sánchez must have backing from a majority of MPs by 27 November. If he fails, general elections will be called and held probably on 14 January 2024.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.Euractiv.es)