Catalan secessionists fail to elect new regional leader

Puigdemont ally Quim Torra needed 68 votes to be elected but obtained only 66

epaselect epa06731502 Catalan pro-independence party Junts Per Catalunya (JxCat)`s MP Quim Torra, new candidate for Catalan regional President, after the plenary session at Catalan Regional Parliament in Barcelona, Spain, 12 May 2018. Catalan regional Parliament held a plenary session to debate and voting of the investiture of Torra as new regional President. The investiture was rejected and Torra had to wait a second vote will be held on next 14 May when he would only need a simple majority to become in President. EPA/Quique Garcia

Quim Torra, above, Carles Puigdemont's nominated replacement for the Catalan leadership, failed to secure the premiership by two votes in the first round of voting by the regional parliament, on May 12, 2018. Quique Garcia / EPA

Reuters

May 13, 2018

Catalan pro-independence parties failed on Saturday for a fourth time to elect a regional leader, 10 days before the deadline to form a government or hold a new election.

Quim Torra, a close ally of former leader Carles Puigdemont, needed 68 votes but obtained only 66.

However, Mr Torra could still be elected in a second round of voting to be held on Monday in which only a simple majority in the 135-seat regional parliament is needed, provided the far-left CUP party can be persuaded not to vote against his candidacy.

The CUP, whose four parliamentarians abstained in the vote on Saturday, will meet on Sunday to decide how it will vote in the second round.

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[ German court orders Carles Puigdemont’s release on bail ]

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Backing unilateral independence over the negotiated exit favoured by larger separatist parties, the CUP has previously broken ranks with the pro-independence block.

Catalonia has been in political limbo since December last year when pro-independence parties won early elections called by the central government.

Madrid invoked special powers to take direct control of Catalonia in October after the region declared independence. The wealthy, populous region has since been administered by the central government.

Catalan politicians must pick a leader to form a government by May 22 to avert further elections, following a stand-off during which separatist politicians put forward candidates who were blocked by the courts for being either abroad or in jail, among them Mr Puigdemont.

Addressing the Catalan parliament on Saturday, Mr Torra, a staunch supporter of secession, vowed to work towards a Catalan republic and referred to Mr Puigdemont as the legitimate leader of the region.

Mr Torra also reiterated his openness to dialogue with Madrid, as well as calling on the European Union to oversee negotiations.

The Spanish government said Mr Torra’s speech was "confrontational".

"Any illegality will be corrected and any violation of our constitutional framework will be responded to," it said in a statement.