Analysis-Catalan separatists drive hard bargain to support Sanchez after Spain election

FILE PHOTO: "Junts x Catalunya" members raise up an "Estelada" flag (Catalan separatist flag) as they celebrate the results of the European Parliament elections in Barcelona, Spain, May 27, 2019. REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo

BARCELONA/MADRID (Reuters) - Spain may be heading for a repeat of Sunday's inconclusive election unless Catalan separatist parties compromise on their demands for an independence referendum in exchange for their support.

After neither the right nor left bloc won enough seats to form a majority, Catalan separatist parties Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) and Junts have emerged as kingmakers. Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez needs their 14 parliamentary votes to support a left-wing coalition government.