Protests turn ugly as pressure mounts on Spain’s acting government for amnesty talks with Catalans

By JOSEPH WILSON and IAIN SULLIVAN
Associated Press

MADRID (AP) — Clashes have erupted in Spain for a second night between police and protesters who oppose the acting government’s negotiations with Catalan separatist parties over a possible amnesty for thousands of secessionists in the northeastern region. Tuesday’s gathering at the gates of the national headquarters in Madrid of the ruling Socialist Party was attended by around 7,000, roughly double the number of protesters that took part the day before.  The Socialists are seeking the Catalan separatist parties’ backing to form a new government and keep the center-left coalition in power. The separatists have demanded a sweeping amnesty that would include their leaders who fled Spain following their failed 2017 secession attempt.