Nearly 50 lawmakers who advocate for their regions to become independent from Spain boycotted Monday's ceremonial opening of the nation's legislative season over the presence of the royal family.

The representatives of five parties from the Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia regions, all in northern Spain, say that the figure of the king is “anachronistic" and that it should be rooted out of Spanish politics.

Their symbolic gesture of not attending the first session of the national parliament since a new left-wing government was sworn in last month exposes the difficulties that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces in the coming months.

From left to right: speaker of the Spanish Parliament Meritxell Batet, Spain's King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Princess of Asturias Leonor and her sister Sofia during the official opening of the parliamentary season in Madrid, Monday, Feb. 2, 2020. Nearly 50 lawmakers who advocate for the Spanish regions to become independent have boycotted Monday's ceremonial opening of the nation's legislative season over the presence of the royal family. The representatives of five parties from the Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia regions, all in northern Spain, say the king's figure is "anachronistic" and that it should be rooted out of Spanish politics. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)

From left to right: speaker of the Spanish Parliament Meritxell Batet, Spain's King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Princess of Asturias Leonor and her sister Sofia during the official opening of the parliamentary season in Madrid, Monday, Feb. 2, 2020. Nearly 50 lawmakers who advocate for the Spanish regions to become independent have boycotted Monday's ceremonial opening of the nation's legislative season over the presence of the royal family. The representatives of five parties from the Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia regions, all in northern Spain, say the king's figure is "anachronistic" and that it should be rooted out of Spanish politics. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)

His coalition with the far-left United We Can (Podemos) party will need votes from the separatist parties to pass the nation's 2020 spending plan and any significant legislation. Sánchez's Socialists have been supportive of King Felipe VI and the former monarch, King Emerit Juan Carlos I.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, bottom left, applauds Spain's King Felipe VI, not seen, during the official opening of the parliamentary season in Madrid, Monday, Feb. 2, 2020. Nearly 50 lawmakers who advocate for the Spanish regions to become independent have boycotted Monday's ceremonial opening of the nation's legislative season over the presence of the royal family. The representatives of five parties from the Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia regions, all in northern Spain, say the king's figure is "anachronistic" and that it should be rooted out of Spanish politics. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, bottom left, applauds Spain's King Felipe VI, not seen, during the official opening of the parliamentary season in Madrid, Monday, Feb. 2, 2020. Nearly 50 lawmakers who advocate for the Spanish regions to become independent have boycotted Monday's ceremonial opening of the nation's legislative season over the presence of the royal family. The representatives of five parties from the Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia regions, all in northern Spain, say the king's figure is "anachronistic" and that it should be rooted out of Spanish politics. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)

 CORRECTS TITLE OF PABLO IGLESIAS Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias sits in the front row during the official opening of the parliamentary season in Madrid, Monday, Feb. 2, 2020. Nearly 50 lawmakers who advocate for the Spanish regions to become independent have boycotted Monday's ceremonial opening of the nation's legislative season over the presence of the royal family. The representatives of five parties from the Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia regions, all in northern Spain, say the king's figure is "anachronistic" and that it should be rooted out of Spanish politics. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)

CORRECTS TITLE OF PABLO IGLESIAS Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias sits in the front row during the official opening of the parliamentary season in Madrid, Monday, Feb. 2, 2020. Nearly 50 lawmakers who advocate for the Spanish regions to become independent have boycotted Monday's ceremonial opening of the nation's legislative season over the presence of the royal family. The representatives of five parties from the Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia regions, all in northern Spain, say the king's figure is "anachronistic" and that it should be rooted out of Spanish politics. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)

 Spain's King Felipe VI gives a speech during the official opening of the parliamentary season in Madrid, Monday, Feb. 2, 2020. Nearly 50 lawmakers who advocate for the Spanish regions to become independent have boycotted Monday's ceremonial opening of the nation's legislative season over the presence of the royal family. The representatives of five parties from the Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia regions, all in northern Spain, say the king's figure is "anachronistic" and that it should be rooted out of Spanish politics. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)

Spain's King Felipe VI gives a speech during the official opening of the parliamentary season in Madrid, Monday, Feb. 2, 2020. Nearly 50 lawmakers who advocate for the Spanish regions to become independent have boycotted Monday's ceremonial opening of the nation's legislative season over the presence of the royal family. The representatives of five parties from the Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia regions, all in northern Spain, say the king's figure is "anachronistic" and that it should be rooted out of Spanish politics. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)