Spain has been in the hands of Sánchez's caretaker government since July's inconclusive snap general election, in which the PSOE was narrowly beaten by the conservative People's party (PP). The PP has proved unable to form a government, even with the support of the far-right Vox party and other, smaller political groupings.
Sánchez and his allies in the leftwing Sumar alliance have the best chance of forming a government but can do so only with the support of the two main Catalan pro-independence parties, the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) and Junts (Together).
Both Catalan parties say their support for getting the PSOE back into office would be contingent on an amnesty for the hundreds of people who participated in the failed push to secede from Spain in October 2017.
While the ERC has signed off its deal with the PSOE, Junts, which is led by the former Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont - who is wanted by Spanish courts - is still negotiating its support.
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