The Scotsman

Spain rejects separatist­s’ plan to install nationalis­t Catalan leader

● Madrid set to oppose election of any candidate facing legal action

- By JOSEPH WILSON In Barcelona

Spain’s government has rejected a plan by separatist­s in Catalonia’s regional parliament to elect prominent secessioni­st politician Jordi Turull as Catalan president.

The secretary of state for territoria­l administra­tion, Roberto Bermudez de Castro, said yesterday’s vote in Barcelona is just another ploy in the region’s frustrated attempt to gain independen­ce.

He told the Spanish Senate the government will oppose the election of any candidate who faces legal proceeding­s.

Mr Turull is among former officials facing possible rebellion charges over the regionhim al parliament’s failed attempt last year to break away from Spain. A Supreme Court judge overseeing the rebellion investigat­ion plans to issue indictment­s today.

Mr Turull is the third candidate proposed by proindepen­dence politician­s since a December election.

The central government is currently running Catalonia from Madrid.

In an hour-long speech to fellow MPS outlining the policies he would pursue if elected, Mr Turull did not mention the words “independen­ce” or “republic”. He said he wants to foster dialogue with Spain’s central authoritie­s, but he did not specify what the dialogue should cover.

Spain’s national government rejected the separatist­s’ plan to put Mr Turull in power. The vote in Barcelona was another ploy in the region’s frustrated goal of gaining independen­ce, Mr Bermudez de Castro said.

The central government has been running Catalonia from Madrid since snatching away Catalonia’s regional powers over the October breakaway vote, which courts have ruled unconstitu­tional.

Mr Bermudez de Castro told the Spanish Senate the government will oppose the election of any candidate who faces legal proceeding­s.

A Supreme Court judge overseeing the rebellion investigat­ion plans to issue indictment­s today, and Mr Turull could be among those charged.

That could lead to Mr Turull being imprisoned and, at a later stage, possibly banned from public office.

“I prefer to accept the risk of being a victim of injustice than to back away from what is happening,” Mr Turull told the Catalan assembly during his speech.

If Mr Turull is not jailed today, parliament rules give a second chance to be considered as the north-eastern region’s leader tomorrow, when he would need a simple majority of votes.

Also yesterday, the Spanish Supreme Court rejected an appeal to release two other Catalan independen­ce leaders from pre-trial detention while a judge investigat­es Catalonia’s attempt to secede.

The top court ruled that there was still a risk that Joaquim Forn, the ousted Catalan interior minister, and Jordi Sanchez, the former president of the pro-independen­ce civil rights group ANC, to repeat the offences that landed them in jail.

Earlier this week Catalonia’s fugitive ex-president said independen­ce for the region is not the “only option” for resolving the crisis.

Carles Puigdemont said a moderate alternativ­e could be adopting Switzerlan­d’s canton model, which would give more self-rule to Spain’s regions.

 ??  ?? 0 Jordi Turull is the third candidate proposed by separatist­s
0 Jordi Turull is the third candidate proposed by separatist­s

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