Motion of no confidence against president fails in parliament

The motion of no confidence against the Catalan president, discussed on Monday in parliament, failed after a 5-hour debate.

Ciutadans' bid to oust Quim Torra from post and get their leader Lorena Roldán to replace him only got the support of the People's Party.

With 40 votes in favor of the motion, 76 against and 17 abstentions, Torra will continue as president – the term officially ends in December 2021 if no snap election is called.

Roldán accused Torra of "cheering presumed terrorists," referring to the seven pro-independence activists held in provisional jail for two weeks on terrorism charges.

Meanwhile, most of the parties in the chamber rejected her bid calling it "opportunist," taking into account that the snap Spanish election will be held on November 10.

The Socialists have also criticized Ciutadans, but ended up abstaining during the vote – so Roldán did not get the support of the whole unionist camp, while all the pro-referendum parties voted No, including Catalunya en Comú, not explicitly in favor of independence.