Torra will not attend Spain's regional leaders' meeting and asks Sánchez for video call

Catalan president Quim Torra will not be attending Spain's regional leaders' conference in La Rioja on Friday, as announced on Thursday, but has asked Spanish president Pedro Sánchez for a one-on-one videoconference to speak of issues concerning Catalonia.

Torra had previously asked to participate in the meeting via video call due to the current epidemiological situation in Catalonia, although that request was denied by Sánchez.

In addition to this, Torra alleged that he did not want to contribute to "whitewashing" the image of the monarch as King Felipe VI of Spain will also be in attendance on Friday, and he also lamented the fact that the meeting's discussion points have not been agreed upon in advance.