The Socialist party, currently in power in Spain, emerged victorious in the regional elections in Catalonia, seen as a crucial test for the divisive measure of President Pedro Sánchez to offer amnesty to separatists. Although not gaining enough seats to govern alone, the socialists celebrate this as a significant win. Negotiations and a potential election rerun may lie ahead. The party now faces the challenge of forming a government, likely needing support from the separatist party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya and Comuns. The main rival, Junts per Catalunya, came in second but lacks the seats to form a government with other separatist parties. The elections reflect a shift in Catalan sentiment, potentially indicating a reduced emphasis on independence. This could be attributed to a general disillusionment with the separatist parties rather than a waning interest in separatism. The positive election results for the socialists in Catalonia suggest that President Sánchez's risky move to grant amnesty has paid off, potentially easing separatist tensions in the region and normalizing the Spanish-Catalan relationship.