Catalan president forms government

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Catalan president Quim Torra signed on Tuesday evening a decree nominating the region's government without those who backed its independence from Spain, paving the way for the end of a deadlock in the Spanish eastern region.

The Spanish government refused earlier to ratify Torra's choice of councilors for some being involved with last year's illegal declaration of independence from Spain.

According to Torra's office, they made the decision as they wanted a Catalan government to be formed "as soon as possible" and "wanted to be part of the solution and not the problem."

Newly appointed Catalan president Quim Torra speaks to the press after a visit to jailed Catalan separatist politicians at the Estremera jail near Madrid, May 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia reported that the Spanish government would not be against this decision and that would be the first step to lift the article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, which introduced a direct control from Madrid over key Catalan institutions.

The article was implemented as a consequence of the illegal declaration of independence on October 27, 2017.

(Cover: Quim Torra has been sworn in as the president of Catalonia, May 17, 2018. /AFP Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency