The Spanish government of Pedro Sánchez continues to capitulate to Catalan separatists after making fresh concessions in exchange for their political support. Just days after Sánchez suffered a humiliating defeat in Congress, where a major piece of legislation was rejected, he has agreed to a deal with separatist party Junts to push the measure through.
The latest moves include Sánchez agreeing to campaign for Catalan to be made an official language of the European Union, making a state-owned national TV channel Catalan-only in Catalonia, and holding new negotiations in Switzerland with exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont.
Last week, the Spanish government presented a sweeping bill that included pension increases, public transport subsidies, and additional economic policies. However, Junts and the centre-right People’s Party (PP) voted against it, dealing Sánchez a significant blow.
Junts justified its opposition by accusing the governing Socialists of failing to fulfil their prior agreements, particularly regarding greater recognition for Catalonia and more autonomy in key areas. The defeat forced Sánchez to rewrite the law, removing many elements and ensuring that Junts’ demands were prioritised in the new version. This episode again demonstrated Sánchez’s dependence on the separatists to maintain his fragile grip on power.
The most controversial of these new concessions is the complete linguistic transformation of TV channel La 2 in Catalonia. Junts has successfully pressured the government into eliminating Spanish-language programming on the channel in Catalonia. The measure will require increased public funding, yet neither Junts nor the government have disclosed the costs. This move will further marginalise the Spanish language in the region and deepen the separatists’ cultural control over Catalonia.
Meanwhile, Junts has continued to tighten its grip on Sánchez’s government, dictating the terms of his political survival. The Socialists have now agreed to process a proposal for a vote of confidence in Sánchez, a demand from Junts that was initially rejected. Although this vote is non-binding, it symbolises Sánchez’s complete dependence on the separatists. Furthermore, Junts has taken control of negotiations, dictating which ministers it will and will not negotiate with.
Beyond domestic policy, Junts is celebrating its latest victories as a step toward international recognition for Catalonia. The party claims it is close to securing the full transfer of immigration management to the Catalan government, as well as pushing for Catalan to be officially recognised at the same level as Spanish within the European Union. Junts sees both of these developments as crucial in laying the groundwork for eventual international recognition of Catalonia as a separate nation.
As part of their ongoing negotiations, Sánchez has also committed to meeting Puigdemont in Switzerland next month, where an international mediator will oversee discussions. They will likely discuss another independence referendum for the region, fulfilling another key demand from the separatists.
The political weakness of Sánchez has never been more evident. After last week’s humiliating defeat in Congress, he has rushed to secure Junts’ support at any cost, even if it means further concessions that undermine Spain’s national unity. With Junts now openly discussing an independence referendum in their upcoming negotiations, Spain is heading toward a new constitutional crisis—one that Sánchez himself has enabled in his desperate bid to remain in power.
