Puigdemont “ready” to be number two in joint pro-independence ticket in European election

The former Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, is "absolutely ready" to stand as the number two candidate in a joint pro-independence ticket headed by Esquerra party leader, Oriol Junqureras, in the upcoming European election in May 2019.

Puigdemont and his group, Junts per Catalunya, are willing to join forces with the other large pro-independence party, Esquerra, in all elections –but Junqueras’ political force has been reluctant to take part in joint tickets, and claim that separate candidacies will work better to amass the maximum number of votes for the movement in favor of a Catalan Republic.

"I do not want to be candidate in the European election, I would only consider it if I was number two on a Junqueras-led ticket," said Puigdemont in an interview with the Catalan public radio, Catalunya Ràdio.