Spain’s Sumar urges Socialist Party to have complex-free debate on amnesty law

The left-wing Sumar platform urged Spain’s Socialist party on Thursday to open the debate “without complexes or taboos” on an amnesty law, something required by Catalan separatists to support a government led by Pedro Sánchez.

Sumar, a platform of 15 progressive forces led by the acting Labour Minister, Yolanda Díaz, reiterated that an amnesty law has “a perfect constitutional fit” and urged PSOE (S&D) critical politicians to open the debate “without concealment or taboos”.

Since the snap general elections of 23 July in Spain, Sumar has been exploring possible ways, within the framework of the Spanish Constitution, to grant a possible amnesty for those involved in the October 2017 events in Catalonia.

The Catalan parliament unilaterally declared “independence” in 2017 following a referendum the same year, which was declared illegal by Spain’s Constitutional Court.

While some relevant PSOE members believe that an amnesty law could be included in the Spanish Constitution, others, including former PSOE Prime Minister Felipe González, and many legal experts, do not share this view.

Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont on Tuesday had set out the red lines of his pro-independence, centre-liberal party, Junts Per Catalunya (Together For Catalonia, JXCat), for the start of formal negotiations to reinstate Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

An amnesty law to pardon those involved in the October 2017 events and a referendum on Catalonia’s self-determination are JXCat’s two main preconditions.

JXCat’s seven parliamentary seats are essential for Sánchez to forge a future coalition executive with Sumar and return to power for another term.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Sumar’s parliamentary spokeswoman, Marta Lois, said that the left-wing platform was working on a proposal to be presented to the PSOE soon on including an amnesty law in the country’s Magna Carta.

However, the government has “not yet” discussed a future amnesty law, the PSOE spokesperson and acting Education Minister Pilar Alegría said in Brussels on Thursday. Alegría reiterated that PSOE will always work “with dialogue” and “within the constitutional framework”.

Meanwhile, election winner and leader of centre-right Partido Popular (PP/EPP) Alberto Núñez Feijóo continued to meet political leaders to try to gather support for his investiture as the King requested from him as his party failed to reach a majority.

Feijóo needs a majority of 176 MPs to back his investiture, but he has gathered 174. He has until 26 September to secure the required majority.

If neither of the two candidates obtains the necessary support, Spain would probably have to hold new elections on 14 January 2024.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.EURACTIV.es)