Junts ends alliance with Spain’s ruling Socialists, leaving Sánchez weakened

MADRID – The grassroots of Catalonia’s pro-independence party Junts, whose parliamentary support underpins Pedro Sánchez’s coalition, voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to back its leadership’s decision to break off relations with Spain’s ruling Socialist Party (PSOE).

According to party figures, 87% of members endorsed the move.

On Tuesday, Junts’ self-exiled leader Carles Puigdemont announced that the party would withdraw its parliamentary support for Sánchez’s PSOE, but said the decision would have to be ratified by Junts’ more than 6,000 members.

However, Junts suggested that it would not withdraw from the governing coalition – a move that would trigger early elections – nor back a no-confidence vote with the Spain’s conservative opposition, as had been rumoured.

The right-wing separatist party accuses the Socialists of failing to uphold key commitments made in 2023, when Junts’ seven lawmakers secured Sánchez’s re-election by providing the decisive votes for a 179-seat majority in the 350-member Congress.

The deal included the full implementation of a controversial amnesty law covering embezzlement charges upheld by Spain’s Supreme Court against Puigdemont for allegedly diverting public funds to finance Catalonia’s 2017 independence referendum. It also pledged to grant Catalan official EU language status and transfer migration and fiscal powers to the regional government in Barcelona.

In practice, the rupture means the PSOE will likely struggle to pass new legislation or approve the 2026 state budget, severely limiting Sánchez’s ability to govern.

Despite the setback, Socialist officials said they remain open to dialogue. Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun, from the ruling coalition’s far-left junior party Sumar, said that “there is still room for understanding.”

(aw)