Catalan parliament meets as sacked leader seeks comeback

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Catalonia's parliament met on Wednesday in a first step toward forming a new government dominated by the question of whether sacked former leader Carles Puigdemont can return as president and continue his push for independence from Spain.

Puigdemont's supporters have suggested the former journalist could rule the wealthy region via video link from self-imposed exile in Brussels, to where he fled in October to avoid arrest for charges including sedition and treason.

Catalan lawmakers elected pro-independence politician Roger Torrent as parliamentary speaker, a first step in a plan by pro-independence deputies to get Puigdemont back into power.

Torrent was elected, 65 votes against 56, against an anti-independence candidate in an assembly where eight seats were empty. The absentees are now in jail over their role in Catalonia's independence drive or in self-imposed exile in Belgium.

Deputy Roger Torrent (C) is applauded after being elected as new speaker during the first session of Catalan Parliament after the regional elections in Barcelona, Spain, Jan. 17, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Torrent was the preferred candidate for speaker of the two main pro-independence parties, Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia) and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (Republican Left of Catalonia).

The election was held as the Catalan's regional parliament met for the first time since it was dissolved following a failed independence bid last year.

The pro-independence parties are now in the majority, after a fresh election called by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

But the secession movement has also been weakened by the fact that five members of parliament, including Puigdemont, are in Brussels while three are in custody for their role in an illegal independence referendum in October.

Late on Tuesday, the two main pro-independence parties said they would back Puigdemont as presidential candidate. A first vote to choose a new leader is likely to take place on Jan. 31.

Rajoy has dismissed the possibility that Puigdemont could rule by Skype as absurd and the Catalan parliament’s own legal experts have ruled that any president must be physically present in parliament.

However, the ultimate decision lies in the hands of the Catalan parliamentary committee which will be formed on Wednesday. Rajoy has said he will contest in the courts any move to allow Puigdemont to return to power.

The seats of absent lawmakers were marked with giant yellow ribbons on Wednesday. Even if these lawmakers are unable to vote, the pro-independence parties will still have more weight in parliament than those favoring unity with Spain.

Pro-independence supporters gathered outside the parliament on Wednesday waving red and yellow Catalan flags.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters