Catalan Separatists Preparing Supporters to...>

SPAIN: Catalan Separatists Preparing Supporters to Accept Sanchez Deal (BBG)

- The Catalan separatist party holding the key to unlocking a national

government for Spain is preparing its supporters for the possibility of a deal

that would put acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez back in power. While the

leaders of Esquerra Republicana haven't yet decided to give Sanchez the votes he

needs, they've already started meeting with local groups in order to minimize

the potential backlash if they do eventually back a Socialist-led

administration, two party officials said. In exchange for their support,

Esquerra wants Sanchez to engage directly in talks over the future of Catalonia,

the officials said, asking not to be named discussing party strategy. Contact

between the two sides has been minimal so far, they added.