Members of anti-austerity Comuns back Spanish coalition agreement with 95% of votes 

Party also supports negotiations with Catalan pro-independence groups

En Comú Podem's President Jéssica Albiach
En Comú Podem's President Jéssica Albiach / Marta Sierra
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

November 7, 2023 11:11 AM

November 7, 2023 03:23 PM

Members of the anti-austerity Catalunya en Comú party approved with 95.2% of the votes to be part of the Spanish coalition government with the Socialists, led by Spain's acting PM Pedro Sánchez.  

They also showed their support to negotiate with Catalan pro-independence parties Junts and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) on an amnesty bill for leaders involved in the organization of the 2017 independence referendum.  

The anti-austerity party has been in Pedro Sánchez's coalition government for the past four years and ran in July's general election in coalition with Sumar. Sumar obtained 31 congress seats, 7 of which were for Comuns.  

The internal vote comes amid negotiations between the Socialists and Junts to support Pedro Sánchez's PM bid. However, Carles Puigdemont's party has not yet reached an agreement with the Socialists over the amnesty bill.  

On October 24, Sumar and the Socialists made an agreement for a new coalition government, pending support from Catalan pro-independence parties.  

Sumar's Yolanda Díaz and PSOE's Pedro Sánchez struck a deal on key measures such as a shorter workweek, a 'fair' fiscal reform, a shock plan against youth unemployment and an increase in public housing, among others.  

54.4% of Comuns members took part in the vote, in which 2.4% voted against and 2.3% abstained.