Catalonia's current president and parliamentary speaker insists the vote is delayed, not cancelled and says Carles Puigdemont is still the best candidate to lead the region.
ADVERTISEMENTCarles Puigdemont is the 'only feasible candidate to lead Catalonia', the region’s current president has insisted as he announced a vote to determine the position had been postponed.
Roger Torrent, who is also the Parliament Speaker stressed the ballot had not been cancelled:
"I will not propose any other candidate. President Carles Puigdemont has all the legitimacy to be a candidate and he has all the right... That's why I have personally pledged to guarantee his immunity, and the immunity of all the deputies in the exercise of their political rights in the Parliament of Catalonia ".
But Madrid says Puigdemont is not a viable candidate as he has been in self-imposed exile since illegally declaring independence for Catalonia in October.
He is believed to be in Belgium, despite a social media post appearing to suggest he had in fact returned to Barcelona.