Agreement for new Catalan president ‘imminent’

Pro-independence parties in Catalonia might reach a deal on the new president and government as soon as this week. Although talks to form a new executive were at a standstill just a few days ago, one of the forces taking part in the negotiations, Esquerra Republicana (ERC), told the press that the agreement is likely to come by this Thursday.

ERC’s spokesman, Sergi Sabrià, said that negotiations with president Carles Puigdemont’s candidacy, Junts per Catalunya, and the far-left CUP are “going well” and that the agreement is “imminent.” For Esquerra, the deal “must” include the person who will lead the country and also the new government and its roadmap. “For us the deal must be global and has to include all the aspects, it’d be positive to have it all arranged by Thursday.”