The socialist party, which secured the second-largest number of votes in the recent elections, has finalized an accord with separatist groups to ensure their support in the upcoming investiture vote. This agreement includes a disputed amnesty law that has been criticized by legal experts as unconstitutional.

In 2017, catalan separatists held an illegal referendum resulting in a sharp political crisis in Spain. The central figures who orchestrated the coup and remained in Spain were sentenced to prison, while Carles Puigdemont, the ringleader of the secessionist movement, fled the country, avoiding arrest.

In a controversial political maneuver, Pedro Sánchez, the Socialist Party candidate lacking a parliamentary majority, struck a deal with the absconded Puigdemont. The agreement ensures Puigdemont will evade prosecution in exchange for supporting Sánchez’s bid for the presidency. The Socialist Party has introduced an amnesty proposal that would pardon the separatist leaders, which is a political exchange to secure Sánchez’s position as Spain’s president.