Swearing-in deal closer

The pro-independence parties, JxCat, ERC and CUP, continue to explore common ground to solve the problem of swearing in Carles Puigdemont and forming a government so that self-rule can be reinstated. CUP representatives met Puigdemont yesterday in Brussels, a day after ERC had done the same, in an attempt to move on from last week’s tensions produced by the postponement of the parliamentary session to appoint a Catalan president.

On the table was an initiative for a dual investiture, which would see the presidency split between a symbolic and an executive head of government. This formula would allow Puigdemont to be sworn in from Brussels by an assembly of elected officials, while another investiture would take place in the Catalan parliament, with the appointment of a president in-line with Spanish law that would see an end to direct rule under Article 155.

“We are moving towards agreement,” said JxCat spokesman Eduard Pujol, whose party is considering the possibility that JxCat’s number two candidate, Jordi Sànchez, could fulfil the role of executive president despite being in prison.

A legitimate government in Brussels led by and an executive government in Catalonia “sounds good” to ERC, because it would bring together the party’s main aims: reinstating Puigdemont, bringing Article 155 to an end and forming a government without putting more political leaders at the mercy of the Spanish judiciary.

While an ERC spokesman did not want to reveal any details of the investiture formula under discussion, he did insist that all parties are clear that “there is only one candidate” and he declared himself to be optimistic about them reaching an agreement.