13:23, 16-Jan-2018
Catalonia Election: Madrid to keep direct rule of region if former leader re-elected
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Spain's Prime Minister says his country will continue ruling Catalonia if the region's parliamant re-elects Carles Puigdemont as president.
MARIANO RAJOY SPANISH PRIME MINISTER "It's absurd that someone aspires to be president of the Catalan regional government while being a fugitive and in Brussels. It's not an issue of law or politics, it's a case of common sense."
The sacked former leader remains in exile in Brussels, but the Prime Minister says he'll challenge Puigdemont's appearance if tries to participate in the vote. Madrid called elections last month to try to solve the political crisis. But pro-independence parties gained a slim majority. The new parliament will meet for the first time this week and a new leader could be chosen by the end of the month.