Torra urges Rajoy to ‘fix time and place’ for first meeting

Catalan president Quim Torra has called on his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy for a first meeting since the pro-independence MP was elected on Monday, more than six months after his predecessor Carles Puigdemont was deposed following a declaration of independence.

"Please, Mr Rajoy, fix a time and place. We'll be there. Without preconditions, let's talk. I repeated a thousand times the word 'dialogue' in my speeches. We'll do everything in our power to engage in a frank and open dialogue with the Spanish government," Torra said.

A day after being sworn in as head of government, Torra met with Puigdemont in Berlin, where the deposed president is seeking refuge from prosecution in Spain. Puigdemont chose Torra as his successor after courts blocked his attempts to retake the post from abroad.