Catalans Urge Block on Spain’s Budget Bill, Pressuring Socialists – Reuters

By Belén Carreño and Joan Faus

MADRID (Reuters) – Catalan pro-independence parties announced on Monday their intention to submit parliamentary amendments against the Spanish government’s budget proposal for 2019, which could jeopardize the budget and the administration of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist party.

Sanchez’s minority Socialist government, which took office in June, controls only 25% of the seats in parliament, making it heavily reliant on support from anti-austerity Podemos, Catalan nationalists, and smaller parties to pass legislation.

The two Catalan parties, ERC and PDeCAT, stated they would move forward with comprehensive parliamentary amendments to the budget proposal, set for its initial vote next week, unless Sanchez engages with some of their political requests.

According to Spanish parliamentary rules, such amendments have the power to block the entire budget bill.

If parliament fails to approve the government’s 2019 budget, it could lead to a snap election before the next scheduled voting period in 2020.

PDeCAT, which holds the Catalan presidency, is calling for the establishment of a nationwide dialogue forum among political parties to politically address the Catalan issue, as explained by their parliamentary spokesperson Carles Campuzano.

ERC, which has been leading in recent polls in Catalonia, has gone a step further by demanding an authorized referendum on the region’s independence.

The trial for 12 Catalan independence leaders is set to commence on February 12, with Spain’s public prosecutor seeking prison sentences of up to 25 years on charges of rebellion and misappropriation of public funds related to Catalonia’s failed bid for independence in 2017.

February 12 also marks the last day for the two parties to withdraw their amendments regarding the budget proposal.

"Until February 12, the parties have time to reflect and assess the implications for all citizens of Catalonia," Batet remarked.

On February 14, all proposed amendments to the budget bill will undergo a simple majority vote. Should they pass, the budget proposal would be effectively rejected, intensifying the pressure on Sanchez to consider an election.