Catalan Separatists Withdraw Support Jeopardizing Spain's Socialist Government

The Catalan separatist party Junts per Catalunya, led by exiled former regional president Carles Puigdemont, has decided to withdraw its crucial support from Spain's minority left-wing government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Junts had previously supported Sánchez following the inconclusive 2023 election in exchange for an amnesty law benefiting those involved in the 2017 Catalan independence push, but claims that the government has failed to uphold its promises, particularly due to the exclusion of Puigdemont from the amnesty because of embezzlement charges. This withdrawal threatens the government's ability to pass legislation as it loses the support of Junts' seven MPs in the 350-seat parliament. While this move does not immediately bring down the government, it raises uncertainty about whether Junts might support any future motions of no confidence, potentially aligning with conservative and far-right parties opposed to Catalan independence. Additional points of contention include the government's failure to secure official EU recognition for the Catalan language and to devolve immigration enforcement powers to Catalan authorities. The decision reflects the ongoing political crisis sparked by the independence bid and highlights the fragile coalition Sánchez relies on to govern.