Pro-independence parties to vote differently in Sánchez presidential bid
Junts per Catalunya to vote No, Esquerra to abstain, but success for Socialist leader looks very uncertain shortly before vote
The two pro-independence parties governing Catalonia will vote differently in Pedro Sánchez’s bid to become Spanish president again on Thursday in the Spanish congress.
President Quim Torra’s party, Junts per Catalunya, will vote against the Socialist leader, while Esquerra will abstain.
This abstention would enable Sánchez to stay in power for a second term should the Socialists reach an eleventh-hour deal with Unidas Podemos, which looked unlikely with less than four hours to go before the vote.
Sánchez failed in his first attempt on Tuesday, as he only gathered 124 votes in favor, while 170 MPs voted against.
Two days later, the Spanish congress will hold a second round of voting, in which the Socialists will not only need Esquerra’s abstention, but also the backing of anti-austerity Unidas Podemos – the parties are in coalition talks, but so far without success.
"[The Socialists] have neither statesmanship, nor common sense"
Laura Borràs · JxCat MP in Madrid
Junts per Catalunya’s senior MP in Madrid, Laura Borràs, made it clear on Thursday that her group would vote against Sánchez.
"JxCat will vote No because Catalonia is waiting for a Yes. A Yes is needed to give a response to the hopes of the majority of Catalans," she tweeted. "They have neither statesmanship, nor common sense."
Esquerra’s head in Madrid, Gabriel Rufián, announced his party would abstain in order to "give an opportunity" to a Spanish left-leaning coalition.
Along with a left-wing pro-independence Bildu MP, he called on the Socialists and Unidas Podemos to negotiate until the last minute, and urged "responsibility" from them.
Rufián was wary of a potential snap election to be held on November 10, because, he said, the parties on the right might prevail and win a majority of seats.
- Esquerra's senior MP in Spanish congress, Gabriel Rufián, with Basque Bildu's Mertxe Aizpurua, on July 25, 2019 (by Roger Pi de Cabanyes)
