Pere Aragonès says vote validated his decision to pursue political negotiations with Pedro Sánchez

Catalonia’s president has hailed a “new stage” in the quest for regional self-determination after a vote by MPs backing the Spanish government’s deeply divisive amnesty law, and vowed to continue pushing for a mutually agreed referendum if he wins another term in May’s snap election.

Pere Aragonès, who has led the regional government for the past three years, told the Guardian that the amnesty – demanded by Catalan separatist parties in return for helping Spain’s Socialist-led coalition back into power after last year’s election – had validated his decision to pursue political negotiations with the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez.

Passing of bill will come as relief for PM Pedro Sánchez, who has gambled his political future on the concession

Spain’s congress has approved the controversial and divisive Catalan amnesty bill that regional separatists demanded in return for helping the country’s Socialist-led coalition government back into office after last year’s inconclusive general election.

The passing of the bill, which was approved by 178 votes to 172 in Spain’s 350-seat parliament, will come as a relief for the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, who has gambled his political future on the concession.