Torra not elected in first round – second vote called for Monday

The Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) presidential candidate, Quim Torra, failed to get an overall majority on Saturday to be elected as head of government, and will therefore have to face a second vote on Monday.

Torra, who called for dialogue during his speech but also insisted that he wants to work towards building a Catalan Republic, got 66 votes in favour from JxCat and the second pro-independence party in the chamber, Esquerra Republicana (ERC).

The four MPs of the far-left CUP abstained, while 65 other members from Ciutadans (Cs), the Catalan Socialists (PSC), Catalunya En Comú-Podem and the People's Party (PP) voted against.

Torra will face a second vote on Monday, when he could be elected if he achieves a simple majority. That is if CUP maintains its abstention and does not vote against. The anticapitalists will decide their vote on a meeting on Sunday.