Unionist Cs party rules out agreements with Pedro Sánchez after election
Socialists also reject post-electoral alliances with conservative groups, arguing for "dialogue with Catalonia within the law"
The unionist party Ciudadanos (Cs), has ruled out any possible alliances with the PSOE Socialist party after the general election on April 28.
The party leadership took the unanimous decision on Monday, confirming to the press after the meeting that there will be no agreements with "either PSOE or Pedro Sánchez."
Party secretary general, José Manuel Villegas, said the Spanish president will be forced into opposition after his "attempts to reach an agreement with the separatists" and governing thanks to the support of the pro-independence parties.
"We need to build as much support as possible for [party leader] Albert Rivera's candidacy to ensure that Sánchez does not continue, and so the nationalists and separatists cannot decide the political future of Spain," said Villegas.
Socialists reject alliances with Ciutadans, PP, and Vox
As for the PSC Catalan Socialist party, they also ruled out any agreements with parties that "take photographs with Vox in Madrid's Colón square," according to party secretary, Salvador Illa.
Illa was referring to the recent protest in the Spanish capital in which the Cs and PP parties joined with the far-right Vox party to oppose the Sánchez government's talks with the Catalan executive.
Rejecting any agreements with either Cs or PP, Illa said Sánchez's PSOE must win a "solid" and "broad" majority, in a "progressive" Spain working for "dialogue with Catalonia within the law."
PP: "No talks with Torra or Puigdemont"
The leader of PP in Catalonia, Alejandro Fernández, rejected talks between Catalonia and Spain if they have to be with president Quim Torra or former president Carles Puigdemont.
"As long as Catalan politics continues to be conducted from Waterloo [in Belgium, where Puigdemont is in exile], no dialogue will be possible," said Fernández.
Fernández also said reinstating direct rule of Catalonia was a "responsibility and obligation," as long as the country is governed by the "populist national movement."