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Sánchez Opens 2026 on the Defensive as Courts and Regional Elections Test His Hold on Power

Moncloa ties survival to a Catalonia‑acceptable financing reform followed by a definitive ruling that secures the amnesty.

Overview

  • Government figures acknowledge losing control of the public agenda to judicial proceedings as corruption cases and rulings dominate political debate.
  • Without a stable majority or approved budgets, each vote in Congress is a separate negotiation that strains the legislature’s viability.
  • ERC’s demands have put regional financing at center stage after a prior €17 billion debt relief, with Generalitat data citing a €14.5–€20.2 billion annual fiscal gap for Catalonia.
  • The executive expects a Court of Justice of the EU decision enabling full application of the amnesty to be a major political milestone and a way to stabilize ties with Junts.
  • PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo casts 2026 as a likely year of change, pointing to the PSOE’s collapse in Extremadura and upcoming contests in Aragón, Castilla y León and Andalucía to press for elections.