Catalan separatist candidate fails to win presidency

BARCELONA: Catalan separatist parties failed to elect a new regional president after their most radical faction refused to back the proposed candidate in a vote of confidence.

Former Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull (pic) obtained 64 votes in favour and 65 against on Thursday, prolonging the political deadlock in the wealthy Spanish region.

There were four abstentions from the far-left CUP party.

The vote triggers a two month deadline for Catalonia to install a new government before fresh Catalan elections must be held.

Under parliamentary regulations a second round parliamentary vote must now take place within two days.

Turull, the only candidate, is not even guaranteed a win in a second round scheduled for today, where he would require a simple majority from the 135-seat Catalan parlia- ment to be elected.

As if this wasn’t enough, it’s uncertain whether the former Catalan government spokesman will even be able to attend the second session as he has been summoned before a Supreme Court judge along with five other separatist leaders.

The judge is due to notify them of the charges brought against them for their role in the Catalan independence drive, and may even remand some of them in custody.

With this in mind, Turull did not mention the word “independence” during his speech to the Catalan parliament even though the CUP demanded a greater commitment to the separatist cause if he wants their support.

Instead he appealed for dialogue with the central government.

Had Turull managed to be sworn in, he would have gone before the judge as Catalonia’s new presidentelect and jailing him would take on a greater gravity.

Turull is the third separatist candidate to be proposed following failed bids by Catalonia’s ousted president Carles Puigdemont and jailed pro-independence activist Jordi Sanchez, who withdrew on Wednesday.