The
deal stipulates the appointment of acting head of the regional
government Artur Mas as Catalan president.
Pro-independence
parties under the Junts pel Si (Together for Yes) coalition have
reached a preliminary deal to form a regional government, they
announced Tuesday.
The deal
stipulates the appointment of acting head of the regional government
and Junts pel Si leader Artur Mas as Catalan president. Even the
anti-capitalist Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) have said they could
now back Mas after snubbing his leadership in the past. The CUP will
make a decision on Dec. 27.
The
Parliament of Catalunya has twice voted against the candidacy of Mas
for the post of president. If a final decision is not made by Jan. 9,
the parliament will have to select an alternative candidate. Failure
to do so could trigger fresh regional elections. Currently,
nationalist parties have an absolute majority in the 135-seat
regional assembly.
The deal
takes place two days after Spain’s general elections that ended
bipartisan hegemony, with the anti-austerity Podemos becoming the
third most important political force in the country. The party, led
by Pablo Iglesias, opposes Catalunya’s split from Spain but
supports a referendum on the issue.
Catalunya is
one of the wealthiest regions of Spain, comprising almost one-fifth
of the struggling Spanish economy. Spain’s economic downturn, along
with austerity policies and political scandals, have contributed to
renewed interest in independence.
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