Socialists warn pro-independence Junts negotiation to take place 'within constitutional framework'

The Spanish Socialists have warned the pro-independence Junts party that their requests to back a potential Pedro Sánchez prime ministerial bid must take place "within a constitutional framework." 

This is what María jesús Montero, the Spanish treasury minister and second-in-command of the left-wing party, said during an interview with radio Cadena SER on Tuesday.

In response to Junts stating that the two key elements for them to negotiate were self-determination and amnesty, she added that the Socialists "have always been very clear," referring to their loyalty to the Constitution.

Negotiating outside of this legal framework "represents moving away from the Socialists' reality." Their goal is to reach deals through dialogue, Montero added.

Montero's comments were backed by Spanish government spokesperson Isabel Rodríguez hours later. 

"Something that has been proven these years under PM Pedro Sánchez's mandate is that there is only room to work within a constitutional framework in Catalonia and Spain," she said.

Given Sunday's electoral results and the Socialists' victory in Catalonia, "it seems like residents have welcomed these policies," she added.

Meanwhile, the main candidate of the most-voted party across Spain, the conservative People's Party's Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said that it "would be a huge mistake for Spain to be governed by pro-independence parties," in a reference to the Catalan and Basque ones Sánchez needs the support of if he was to attempt a prime ministerial bid.

Puigdemont: negotiating table 'worsens' reality

One of the key figures in the negotiation for Sánchez to continue as PM is Carles Puigdemont. The former Catalan president and promoter of the pro-independence Junts party is currently in self-imposed exile in Belgium since the 2017 self-determination referendum deemed illegal by Spain.

To elect a Prime Minister, a majority of at least 176 votes in favor are needed in the first attempt. Pedro Sánchez's (Socialists - 122 seats) left-wing candidacy in coalition with Yolanda Díaz's Sumar (31), plus pro-independence ERC (7) and Basque parties EH Bildu (6) and PNV (5) add up to 171 votes.

This is where Junts becomes key. With their 7 seats, they could re-elect the Socialist as Prime Minister by either voting in favor in the first attempt or else abstaining in a second attempt where only a simple majority is needed - more yes votes than no. 

For the right-wing bloc, the People's Party's Albert Núñez Feijóo would not have enough support alone (136) or with the votes of far-right Vox (33) and Navarra's UPN (1), as in total, they garner only 170.

The scenario of a pro-independence party giving its backing to a right-wing coalition deal between PP and Vox is highly unlikely.

On Tuesday, Puigdemont tweeted that the negotiation table has only "worsen" the Catalan independence push conflict, hiding the "profound repression" from Spain against the self-determination movement. 

One of the main policies Esquerra agreed with the Socialists to back a PM bid after 2019's election was to set up a negotiation table to talk about the independence push—something which Junts, who preferred a more confrontational position, did not welcome.

Catalan government: Sánchez's turn

The Catalan government believes it is necessary to "think and find the reasons" why the pro-independence parties saw a huge drop in the number of votes after Sunday's Spanish election.

Esquerra Republicana, the current party solo-governing the Catalan executive, Junts, and far-left CUP all obtained fewer seats than in 2019. ERC lost 6 out of the 13, Junts 1 out of 8, and CUP did not get any representation in Congress.

Despite the loss of votes, spokesperson Patrícia Plaja highlighted the "key" role these parties hold now after the vote.

"It would be very weird if Pedro Sánchez was not brave enough to make a step forward and play his hand to form a progressive cabinet, as they say," she added.

Trias: Barcelona mayorship not on the table

One of the comments mentioned in the past hours could be for Junts to regain the Barcelona mayorship, currently under Jaume Collboni, a Socialist who got the top spot after a last-minute plot twist before the investiture on June 17.

However, Xavier Trias, the former mayor, and candidate for Trias per Barcelona, rejected the idea. 

"These are different things. We cannot mix one and the other," he said during an interview with radio station RAC1. He hopes that there is no need for elections to be repeated as he believes the Socialists will take on the negotiation "seriously."

Junts should not say no to potential support from the start. The party should back Sánchez "depending on the conditions," but they should have an open mind from the start.