Spanish PM admits relations with Junts are broken but hopes to mend them

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez admitted on Saturday that relations with the pro-independence party Junts are broken and that there is currently no contact.

In an informal conversation with journalists on Constitution Day, the PM called for "patience" and expressed confidence in being able to repair the situation with the party of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont.

Sánchez insisted that he will "fight till the end" to secure approval of the national budget and upcoming decrees, something for which he does not yet have enough votes.

The PM also reiterated his intention to complete his term through 2027 in order to "continue moving forward against the setbacks" that, in his view, the conservative People's Party and far-right Vox represent.

However, despite his determination, Sánchez's parliamentary majority remains fragile, with the Socialist–Sumar coalition dependent on support from several other parties, including Junts.

The arithmetic has become even more complicated since the pro-independence party broke all ties with the Socialists in November and vetoed any approval of their legislation.

According to the Spanish PM, despite the "complex picture," his administration has managed to win all major legislative battles.

One of the key conditions for regaining Junts' support is the return of Puigdemont, who lives in Brussels and is still wanted by Spanish authorities.

According to Junts, one of the reasons for the rupture was the "unfulfilled" promises made by the Socialists, among them, the implementation of the amnesty law, which was approved but did not initially cover Puigdemont.

Sources from the Spanish government admit that until Puigdemont returns, relations with Junts cannot be rebuilt, and they point to 2026 as the year of full "normalization" of the situation in Catalonia.