Acting Spanish PM on verge of second term after controversial Catalan amnesty deal

Pedro Sánchez manages to secure necessary votes by enlisting support of Catalan and Basque nationalists after months of deadlock

Pedro Sánchez is on the verge of winning congressional backing for a second term as Spain’s prime minister after securing the support of Catalan separatist parties by agreeing to a controversial amnesty for hundreds of people involved in the failed push for regional independence six years ago.

Wednesday’s investiture debate – which will be followed by a vote on Thursday that the socialist leader already has the numbers to win – is expected to bring an end to months of political deadlock following July’s inconclusive snap general election.