Puigdemont steps aside

– Ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has rejected being re-appointed as leader of the region, following pressure from Spain’s government and months of political turmoil over its independence bid.

Puigdemont’s announcement from exile in Germany came a day after the Madrid government stepped in to block him from once again becoming president of Catalonia, pressuring the separatist camp to pick another candidate and form a regional government.

Separatist allies had said they would try to have Puigdemont back in the role by next week after the regional parliament voted through reforms allowing him to be re-appointed without being present.

Madrid, however, successfully requested the Constitutional Court to cancel the reform and in a video message Puigdemont said he was now willing to step aside.

“The intolerance and the lack of respect of the state towards the will of the citizens of Catalonia have appeared clearly in the eyes of the world,” he said in the video.

He proposed political newcomer Quim Torra as his successor, urging the next regional executive to build an independent country.

The region has been in political limbo since Spain’s conservative central government imposed direct rule on the region after it declared independence in October.

Separatists won regional elections in December, but fresh polls will be triggered if a new leader is not elected by May 22. –

Barcelona