THE Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) party said yesterday that it would only support a coalition government if it promised serious negotiations on Catalonian independence.

The ruling Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) and Unidas Podemos (UP) were told by the ERC leader Pere Aragones yesterday that “either there is a table for political negotiation or we can’t abstain” on an investiture vote in parliament due next month.

Abstentions, rather than votes against the forming of a coalition government, from some of the country’s smaller parties in the crucial vote may be enough for the PSOE and UP to gain the required simple majority to form a government.

It follows Tuesday’s announcement by Prime Minister Pablo Sanchez and UP leader Pablo Iglesias that they had reached a provisional agreement to form Spain’s first coalition government after the weekend’s inconclusive election result.

The PSOE and UP suffered small losses in the vote — the country’s fourth in as many years — while the new far-right party Vox surged into third place with 52 seats. The ERC dropped two seats but still holds 13 after the election.

PSOE and UP leaders had asked for “generosity” from other parties as their combined total of 155 seats is still short of the 176 needed for an overall majority.

Pablo Casado, leader of the centre-right People’s Party — which finished second in Sunday’s election — refused to support what it called “a radical government.”

And Vox leader Santiago Abascal accused the PSOE of embracing “Venezuelan-style communism.”

Alongside a boost in employment and fighting against corruption, an end to the violence in Catalonia was listed as a priority in the PSOE and UP’s agreement — described by the PM  as “so exciting it will overcome any possible disagreement.”

Mr Iglesias agreed, urging both parties to forget past differences and “work arm in arm in the historic task [for] social justice.”

The make-up of the potential coalition is still unclear, with Spanish national broadcaster RTVE reporting yesterday that Mr Iglesias would be one of three deputy prime ministers and that UP would be offered three portfolios in government.

UP was formed in 2014 following massive demonstrations against corruption, austerity and inequality.