Pere Aragonès appeals to ‘left-wing majority for a Catalan republic’ in push to become president

In a last-ditch attempt to be confirmed as Catalan president on Friday, pro-independence politician Pere Aragonès has addressed lawmakers in Parliament, appealing to a "left-wing majority for a Catalan republic" to back his bid for office. 

"I imagine a country that’s fully aware that without equality there’s no freedom. Where fraternity is inseparable from economic freedom. A feminist, ecologist, and pro-European country," Aragonès said in his presidential candidate speech.   

Despite winning a majority of parliamentary seats in the February 14 election, the three parties in favor of Catalan independence, ERC, JxCat and CUP, have failed to seal a deal to appoint Aragonès as president and form a new government—at least for now.