EDATV Sánchez's Possible Big Gift to Puigdemont to Maintain His Support
From amnesty to immigration control, concessions have been constant, but there is one that the separatists are particularly interested in.
Pedro Sánchez continues to yield to separatism to ensure his stay in power. Each concession to Junts represents another step in his roadmap.
From amnesty to immigration control, the concessions have been constant. But there is one that the separatists desire with special interest.
The greatest goal of separatism is the control of Justice in Catalonia. Puigdemont and his followers seek a total separation from the Spanish system.
Junts is pushing to turn the High Court of Justice of Catalonia into a Catalan Supreme Court. With judges aligned with separatism and without control from the CGPJ.
This structure would guarantee the impunity of their leaders and strengthen the separatist project. Politics would replace judicial criteria.
It is not the first time they have tried to impose their own judicial power. In 2017, Parliament passed a law to establish a Justice tailored to their needs.
That attempt was declared unconstitutional. But now, with Sánchez needing their support, they see the perfect opportunity to revive the idea.
In 2006, they already tried something similar with the Statute. They sought a Justice Council independent of the CGPJ, but the Constitutional Court annulled it.
Now the situation is different. Sánchez is willing to do anything to maintain Junts's support, and their own justice could be his next big gift.
Agreed Referendum
The second major goal of the separatists is the agreed referendum. Junts and ERC disagree on the form, but they agree on the final goal.
ERC proposes a referendum based on Canada's Clarity Act, with rules agreed upon in Congress and a consultation with predefined conditions.
However, Junts prefers the direct path: a self-determination referendum supported by Article 92 of the Spanish Constitution.
This would force the Government of Spain to propose it and the King to call it, thus giving it a legitimacy that the illegal 2017 referendum never had.
While the separatists push to advance their agenda, PSOE continues to yield. The Amnesty Law was just the first step of many.
Approved in June 2024, the amnesty benefits 350 separatists prosecuted for the procés and 73 police officers for their actions on October 1.
The Government justifies the amnesty as a way to "normalize" Catalan politics, but in practice, it is a key concession to maintain power.
Judicial independence in Spain is at risk. Associations of judges and prosecutors have denounced that Sánchez's concessions threaten the system.
The CGPJ has also criticized the pact with Junts, warning about the danger of further politicizing justice for the benefit of separatism.
The opposition, led by PP and Vox, has described these agreements as political blackmail that endangers the unity of Spain.
Meanwhile, Sánchez has yet to deny that his next step might be to accept a Catalan justice system or a referendum under his mandate.
If he finally yields on this point, Puigdemont and Junts will have achieved what they could not in 2017: advancing toward independence with state support.
The price of governing with the separatists continues to rise. Sánchez seems willing to pay it regardless of the consequences for Spain.
The big question is how far he will go with his concessions. Will he accept a Catalan Justice and an agreed referendum to stay in power?
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