Spain: Puigdemont withdraws presidential bid for Catalonia March 1 /update 1

Event

Carles Puigdemont, the former president of the Catalonia region, announced on Thursday, March 1, that he has withdrawn his bid to be reappointed to the presidency. Puigdemont, who is in self-exile in Brussles (Belgium), released a statement on social media stating that he decided to end his candidacy in order to allow a new government to be formed. Spain’s Constitutional Court has ruled that he must be physically present in Barcelona to assume office and he still faces arrest for his role in the October 2017 independence referendum. According to media reports, pro-separatist activist Jordi Sanchez may be named the new regional president by the Catalan parliament in the coming days.

Context

Earlier on Thursday, the Catalan parliament recognized Puigdemont as a legitimate candidate for president and denounced the “authoritarianism” of the central government in Madrid. However, it was unclear if Madrid would have accepted Puigdemont as the regional president. Sanchez may also face similar challenges as he is currently in prison for his connection to the referendum.

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.