President at a distance?

Together for Catalonia (JxCat) needs an agreement between the pro-independence parties to achieve its aim of investing Carles Puigdemont as president without his needing to be physically present in the Catalan parliament. While backing Puigdemont as president, the ERC party is also prioritising a global agreement among the parties in favour of secession, so that the new Catalan executive can have “an effective government from the first minute,” according to ERC spokesman, Roger Torrent, yesterday.

With a common front behind Puigdemont as the only option for president, JxCat and ERC have to do everything to gain control of the parliamentary bureau, which has to be formed next week. Yet, as Puigdemont would be arrested the moment he sets foot in Catalonia, JxCat are exploring the option of his taking office at a distance. To do this will require an interpretation of the parliamentary rules that in turn requires control of the bureau.

Thus, a majority in the bureau is the main priority for the pro-independence bloc of JxCat, ERC and CUP, although talks will also take place with Catalonia in Common-Podem, the only non-independence party that is against the application of direct rule via Article 155 of the Constitution.

Yet, to start with, the speaker of the parliament, Carme Forcadell, has first to decide whether she wants to continue in the post, something that JxCat and ERC support. If she decides not to continue, it is understood that ERC would provide an alternative. Either way, a majority on the bureau that the speaker heads is vital for an interpretation of the rules to allow Puigdemont to take office from his self-imposed exile in Brussels.