Torra offers to reinstate sacked ministers in jail or abroad
Spanish government says deposed officials “cannot be ministers” again and appointing them would lead the executive to reconsider ending direct rule
Direct rule of Catalonia is expected to be lifted as soon as a new government for the country is appointed. This should happen by the end of this week, but it might not be that easy. If president-elect Quim Torra nominates ministers who are either in jail or abroad, the Spanish government could challenge the decision, thus postponing the formation of a Catalan cabinet. This became the main focus of attention on Tuesday, after Torra said he would offer to “reinstate” all the sacked Puigdemont cabinet members to their posts. Yet, the Spanish government delegate in Catalonia has already said that “they cannot be ministers.”
In his first interview since being elected president, Torra said “it would be an honor” if the jailed and exiled ministers were to accept being appointed to the same posts they were removed from last October. Six of them are in two Madrid prisons, while four more are in exile, in Scotland and Belgium. Carles Puigdemont, the president of the dismissed cabinet, is in Berlin, with two more free in Catalonia. Yet all of them are awaiting trial over an alleged misuse of public funds, while nine of them also face rebellion charges.