Spain: Catalonia expected to name Carles Puigdemont as president

Event

The Catalan regional parliament is expected to name a new president in the coming days. On Wednesday, February 28, local media sources reported that Carles Puigdemont, the former president of the region, will likely be selected for the position. Parliament may announce their decision as soon as Thursday, March 1. However, Puigdemont is currently living in self-exile in Brussels and Spain’s Constitutional Court has ruled that he must be physically present in Barcelona to assume office. Puigdemont still faces arrest for his role in the October 2017 independence referendum. It is unclear if the central government in Madrid would allow Puigdemont’s selection, and pro-independence parties in Catalonia are negotiating possible alternative candidates for the presidency. Demonstrations are possible if Puigdemont returns to Catalonia.

Context

Spain was thrown into a constitutional and political crisis after Catalonia held an independence referendum, deemed illegal by the Spanish government and marred with violence, on October 1, 2017. Despite a series of logistical and judicial obstacles enacted by the central government to prevent the vote, 42 percent of the Catalan population participated in the referendum, 90 percent of whom voted in favor of independence. Madrid officially suspended the region's autonomy on October 27 - just moments after the Catalan Parliament unilaterally declared independence - and implemented direct central rule. The central government also fired the Catalan government and dissolved the parliament.

Advice

Individuals in Catalonia are advised to keep abreast of developments to the situation and to avoid any protests as a precaution.