Junts' Political Ultimatum
Junts Demands Sánchez's Resignation, Warns PP 'Our Red Line is Vox', Denying Contact
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Junts per Catalunya is keeping up its pressure campaign against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, insisting he must resign and warning the conservative People's Party (PP) that any deal has a hard limit. "Our red line is called Vox," said Junts spokeswoman Míriam Nogueras, making clear the pro-independence party will not back any government that relies on the far-right party. Diario de Mallorca reported that Nogueras also flatly denied any current "contact" with the PP.
The warning comes days after the Spanish Congress passed a non-binding resolution on June 25 urging Sánchez to step down, by a margin of 177 votes to 171. Junts sided with the PP and Vox to pass the measure, effectively collapsing the coalition of parties that put Sánchez in power in 2023. The government has called the vote "purely symbolic" with "zero political impact."
Nogueras Pushes the 'Starmer Route' to Replace Sánchez
Nogueras appeared on TV3's Els Matins on June 29, repeating her call for what commentators have dubbed the "Starmer Route." The term refers to a change of leadership inside the ruling PSOE party — without holding new elections — similar to how the UK Labour Party replaced its leader before winning power. Nogueras said Sánchez is "incapable of fulfilling agreements" reached during his 2023 investiture. La Opinión de Málaga reported her key message: "If he cannot deliver, let's change Mr. Sánchez."
Sánchez has rejected the idea outright. He called it a "subterfuge" for a back-room motion of no confidence and challenged Junts to file a formal motion if they truly wanted him gone. "Do not make proposals for the gallery that are not defensible," he said. As of June 29, Sánchez shows no sign of stepping aside.
The Vox Paradox Blocking Any Deal With the PP
Junts holds 7 seats in Congress — enough to act as a "kill switch" for the current legislature. The PP needs those votes to mount any credible challenge to the government. But Junts has drawn a clear line: it will not support any arrangement that brings Vox into power or influence. La Provincia noted that Nogueras denied any active talks with the PP, ruling out a formal alliance for now.
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has been trying to court Junts, saying any prime minister "should heed the will of parliament." But his own reliance on Vox support in several regional governments makes a clean partnership with Junts nearly impossible. Analyst Gabriel Rufián of ERC has warned this flirtation echoes the 1996 "Pact of the Majestic," when the PP and Catalan nationalists first struck a governing deal.
Corruption Cases and Broken Promises Fuel the Crisis
The rupture between Junts and Sánchez did not happen overnight. Junts says the PSOE broke core promises from the 2023 investiture deal, including transfers of immigration powers and full use of the Amnesty Law. On top of that, the government faces several major corruption scandals. Former minister José Luis Ábalos was recently sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in a PPE procurement scandal, according to La Opinión de A Coruña.
A group of 1,000 PSOE members and supporters has also signed a manifesto calling for a party congress to replace Sánchez and hold internal primaries. The government's legislative record has stalled badly. It has passed zero major bills in the last quarter without making large concessions. A recent infrastructure decree for rail and sea rescue services was defeated in Congress after Junts, the PP, and Vox voted it down together.
A 'Zombie Legislature' Until Budget Season Forces a Showdown
With the investiture majority of 179 seats now broken, analysts expect a "zombie legislature" — a parliament where the government stays in office but cannot pass major laws. The next hard deadline is the budget cycle in late 2026. If Sánchez cannot secure votes for a new national budget, he may face irresistible pressure to call early elections or submit to a formal confidence vote, according to El Periódico de Aragón.
For now, both sides are stuck. Junts will not back a PP government propped up by Vox. Sánchez will not quit. And the PP cannot form a majority without one or the other. Nogueras summed up the deadlock plainly: Junts wants agreements honored — and if Sánchez cannot do that, Spain needs a new face leading the government, not a new election.
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