Round of talks to choose new Catalan president underway
New Parliament President Roger Torrent sits down with party leaders as debate on whether to allow swearing in Puigdemont at a distance looms
The new Catalan Parliament President, Roger Torrent, is meeting today with the leaders of the different political groups in the chamber to discuss who has more support to become the next Catalan President.
The main pro-independence parties, JxCat and ERC, want Carles Puigdemont to be reinstated as president from Brussels, where he has been since Spain suspended Catalonia's self-rule. If he were to come back to Catalonia, he would be immediately jailed and face a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. Spain wants him for alleged crimes of rebellion and sedition for having organized a vote on independence and declared the Catalan Republic.
His vice president and Home Affairs minister are still in jail, while six other members of his cabinet were recently released on bond. Puigdemont's was the most voted pro-independence party in the December 21 election, and, together with allies ERC and CUP, enjoys an overall majority in the chamber.