Catalonia's pro-independence parties regain control of the region’s parliament, but attempts to re elect ousted leader Carles Puigdemont look set to be more difficult.
ADVERTISEMENTCatalonia's pro-independence parties have had their first victory. Despite the fragile alliance and its battle for power, the two main secession parties regained control of the region’s parliament without difficulties as it assembled for the first time since December’s elections.
Roger Torrent, of the Republican Left (ERC), was elected the new president of the Catalan parliament - a role that comes with a degree of risk: its former occupant, Carme Forcadell is facing charges of sedition and rebellion for facilitating the independence drive.
But their attempts to elect nationalist leader Carles Puigdemont as Catalonian president-in-exile is not likely not prove so straightforward.
The key question now is how the former president, who is in Brussels, will be elected?
'Everyone talks about an online solution, but maybe the Assembly is not ready for that. There are alternatives,' said Jordi Turull, MP and former spokesperson of Puigdemont’s Government.
Legal experts already say it will be impossible to undertake a 'virtual' election. So would an alternative be to come back?
"It's possible that Puigdemont could be elected but he has to come back to Parliament - a 'virtual' election is impossible or at least is very difficult. But if he returns to Spain the police could arrest him," says Eduard Roig, Professor of Constitutional Law Universidad de Barcelona.
The new Catalan Parliament's term opens with many doubts. The Parliament has two-and-a-half months to elect a President of Catalonia. If they don't - the elections will be called again."