Catalonia parliament elects Quim Torra as new regional leader

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Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for "understanding and harmony", but warned that he would not tolerate any flouting of the law and Spain's constitution after Quim Torra was appointed regional president on Monday.

Torra, picked as presidential candidate by exiled leader Carles Puigdemont, scraped through the parliamentary vote – 66 separatist lawmakers voted for him, 65 anti-independence MPs against and four abstained.

"We will build a Catalan republic," he said after the vote.

Read more: Catalan crisis: Everything you need to know

File photo of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy /VCG Photo

The 55-year-old pledged to respect the result of an independence referendum held on October 1 despite a court ban and marred by police violence.

Torra's election by the regional parliament paves the way for a new government in Catalonia.

A new government will automatically lift direct rule imposed by Madrid on October 27 after separatist lawmakers made a short-lived unilateral declaration of independence.

In a bid to end the biggest political crisis to hit Spain in decades, Rajoy called snap regional elections, held in December, which separatist parties won as the secessionist movement in Catalonia showed no sign of dying down.

But since then, the presidential candidates put forward by the separatist camp all fell flat as they were either in jail in Spain over their role in the secession bid or in self-exile.

Torra, who is heading to Berlin to meet with Puigdemont on Tuesday, said he would stay in the post only until the ousted leader, whom he called the "legitimate president", returns home. Ines Arrimadas, leader in Catalonia of the centrist, anti-independence Ciudadanos party, has branded Torra a mere "puppet" of Puigdemont.

Ines Arrimadas, the leader of Ciudadanos party in Catalonia, delivers a speech during an ‍investiture debate at the regional parliament in Barcelona, May 14, 2018. /VCG Photo

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters