IT TOOK almost five months, but Catalonia has at last chosen a new regional president. Quim Torra, the nominee of Carles Puigdemont, his separatist predecessor, was elected in the Catalan parliament by 66 votes to 65, with four abstentions, on May 14th. This means that Spain’s government will end the direct rule it imposed over one of the country’s richest regions after Mr Puigdemont organised an unconstitutional referendum on October 1st, followed by a unilateral declaration of independence. But the Catalan conflict is far from over: indeed Mr Torra (pictured), an ultranationalist, was chosen in order to prolong it, rhetorically at least.
His first act was to fly to Berlin for talks with Mr Puigdemont, who is fighting extradition from Germany on charges relating to the October events that range from rebellion to misuse of public funds. Mr Torra repeatedly stressed the “exceptional and provisional nature” of his mandate and that Mr Puigdemont remains Catalonia’s “legitimate president”....Continue reading
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