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A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 15 May 2018

Catalonia’s lawmakers pick fervent separatist as new chief

By ARITZ PARRA
Associated Press
MADRID (AP) — Lawmakers
in Catalonia elected a fer-
vent separatist as the new
chief of the restive region
Monday, ending a leader-
ship vacuum of more than
six months and setting the
scene for more confronta-
tions with the Spanish gov-
ernment.
Quim Torra, a former cor-
porate lawyer who went on
to lead a prominent pro-
secession group, vowed
to build an independent
Catalan republic by work-
ing under the leadership
of his fugitive predecessor,
Carles Puigdemont.
Puigdemont is in Germa-
ny fighting extradition to
Spain, where he is wanted
for allegedly using public
funds and orchestrating
an “insurrection” to get the
wealthy northeastern re-
gion around Barcelona to
break away from Spain.
Torra was elected 66-65 in
a second round vote af-
ter he failed to secure an Newly appointed Catalan president Quim Torra, leaves the parliament after a parliamentary vote session in Barcelona, Spain,
absolute majority in the Monday, May 14, 2018.
135-strong Catalan Parlia- Associated Press
ment over the weekend. regional parliament passed republic is for everybody, egations” to bolster support ing and agreement in look-
Four lawmakers with the an illegal declaration of in- no matter what they vote.” for independence. ing at the future,” Rajoy
far-left anti-establishment dependence in October. The Catalan separatist The unprecedented Span- told reporters in Segovia.
CUP party abstained. “Our president is Carles movement has caused the ish takeover is set to end “But I say this, and I mean
Separatist parties won a Puigdemont, and we will worst political and institu- when Torra is sworn in along it: I will make sure that the
slim majority in a Decem- be faithful to the mandate tional crisis in Spain in de- with a new Catalan Cabi- law, the Spanish Constitu-
ber regional parliamen- of October...to build an cades. Central authorities net. But Spanish authorities tion and the rest of the le-
tary election. They faced a independent state in the have been ruling Catalonia have warned that the na- gal system, are obeyed.”
hard deadline next week to form of a republic,” Tor- directly from Madrid since tional government could The prime minister’s office
either form a new govern- ra, 55, told the chamber the regional government reassert its authority if the announced meetings with
ment in Catalonia or have based in Barcelona. led by Puigdemont relied new regional government the two leaders of the main
another election called. Torra also has promised to on the results of an out- breaks the law again. opposition parties at the
Immediately after win- create a “state council in lawed Oct. 1 referendum Spanish Prime Minister Mari- national level, Socialist Par-
ning the vote, Torra said exile” and vowed to estab- to declare unilateral inde- ano Rajoy said he didn’t ty Secretary General Pedro
one of the goals of his new lish a constituent assembly pendence from Spain. like what he had heard Sanchez and the pro-busi-
government would be to to write the constitution for The national government during Monday’s investi- ness Ciudadanos (Citizens)
reinstate Puigdemont as a new Catalan republic. has fired dozens of civil ture debate in the Catalan party’s Albert Rivera.
“the legitimate president” “Everybody will win rights servants and closed a net- assembly. He said his judg- Both leaders’ supported
of Catalonia. The Span- with the republic,” Torra work of overseas offices ment on Torra’s appoint- authorizing Rajoy’s conser-
ish government removed told fellow lawmakers in a that sought investments in ment will depend on Torra’s vative cabinet to take di-
Puigdemont and his Cabi- speech before the vote. Catalonia but also func- actions. rect control of Catalonia’s
net from office after the “Nobody will lose rights. The tioned as “diplomatic del- “We will bet on understand- affairs last year.q