Puigdemont: ‘We are close to an agreement’

Pro-independence parties are "close to reaching an agreement" on forming a new Catalan government. That is according to Carles Puigdemont. The Catalan leader reported on Tuesday night that an agreement is "near." In an event in the Belgian city of Ghent, Puigdemont pointed out that he does not want to be just a "symbol," arguing that he was the Catalan president following a vote in Parliament. Yet, Puigdemont also said he will give up the presidency if the Catalan chamber decides not to support his candidacy for president.

Puigdemont also stressed that the parties in favor of a Catalan state should continue working on developing the Catalan republic in the next parliamentary term. Yet the Catalan leader said that while doing so, the next Catalan government also needs to work on running the government within Spanish law. 

"If the Catalan parliament decides to swear in another person, I will respect it," said Puigdemont. However, he also pointed out that a majority of MPs want him to be the next head of the Catalan executive. Despite stating his willingness to give up the presidency, Puigdemont continued to insist that it is "possible" to govern from Belgium.