On Thursday, Pedro Sanchez secured the support of the majority of legislators in the Spanish parliament, bringing an end to four months of political deadlock in Madrid. The 51-year-old prime minister emerged victorious, garnering affirmative votes from all left-wing and separatist factions. In total, 179 out of 350 lawmakers stood behind Sánchez.
Seven lawmakers from the Catalan separatist Junts party, wielding the decisive influence to either propel Pedro Sanchez into the role of prime minister or trigger fresh elections in Spain, cast their votes in favor of Sanchez.
Similarly, the lone representative from the Canarian Coalition, who had previously supported the unsuccessful attempt by center-right Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo to form a government last month, also endorsed Sanchez.
As anticipated, the 171 legislators affiliated with Feijóo’s party, along with those from the far-right Vox group and the conservative Navarrese People’s Union, cast their votes in opposition to the socialist candidate.
Sánchez’s triumph in parliament marks the conclusion of a period of political turbulence that began in May. At that time, the Socialist leader called for snap elections following his party’s significant setbacks in regional and local polls across the nation.
At that time, Sanchez stated that Spaniards needed to clarify which political forces they want to take the lead and that it was time to let electors define the country’s political direction.
Following a bruising campaign, voters responded to Sanchez’s call by electing a hung parliament in which both the left-wing and right-wing political blocs fell short of a majority.
Recognizing the imperative of obtaining support from the separatist parties in the parliamentary chamber, Sánchez promptly initiated negotiations to secure agreements with each of them.
The most intricate negotiation involved the Junts party, led by former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont. The separatist leader, residing in self-imposed exile in Belgium since the unsuccessful 2017 Catalan independence referendum, insisted on an amnesty for individuals facing prosecution related to the movement.
While Sánchez had consistently asserted the impossibility of a comprehensive pardon, citing a violation of Spain’s Constitution, his party unexpectedly submitted a bill on Monday proposing amnesty for individuals connected to the Catalan independence movement over the last decade.
The contentious proposal stirred widespread anger, leading hundreds of thousands of Spaniards to rally in protest.
Over the course of the week, supporters of the right-wing, including the American provocateur Tucker Carlson, took over the street where the headquarters of the Socialist Party is located in Madrid.
Tucker Carlson has joined the uprising in Spain against the socialist coup. He is marching with the opposition leader.
Tucker is basically a world leader now.pic.twitter.com/nV4bvPY8IC
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 13, 2023
In the intense deliberations preceding the vote, Popular Party leader Feijóo leveled accusations at Sanchez, alleging “political corruption” and contending that the deals made were “against the general interest,” driven solely by “personal benefit.”
Feijóo forecasted that the proposed amnesty bill would rekindle the Catalan independence movement, posing a threat to Spain’s national integrity.
He commented, “No one has done more for the separatist cause than Mr. Sánchez.”
However, Sanchez countered, asserting that the legislative proposal aimed to strengthen national unity through dialogue and forgiveness. He defended his upcoming government as a barrier against right-wing forces seeking to marginalize women and suppress the LGBT community.
