Main pro-independence parties in Catalonia reach leadership agreement as Parliament convenes for the first time following regional election

Further information:

The two main pro-independence parties in Catalonia - Junts per Catalunya and the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) - agreed on 10 January 2018 to back Carles Puigdemont as their candidate to head the region. A major debate started on whether long-distance leadership would be possible at all, considering the arrest warrant pending against Mr Puigdemont and the self-imposed exile in Belgium.

The Catalan Parliament held on 17 January its first session following the regional election and elected a pro-independence speaker, Roger Torrent. This was seen as the first step in reinstating local government, suspended since October 2017.

Media reports on the aftermath of the regional election held in Catalonia.

BBC News, 17.01.18: Catalonia MPs elect separatist speaker as parliament reconvenes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42718192

BBC News: Can Carles Puigdemont rule from Belgium? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42715013

EUObserver, 17.01.18: Catalonia prepares for rule by Skype https://euobserver.com/political/140577

The Guardian, 10.01.18: Catalan parties to seek return of Puigdemont as president https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/10/catalan-parties-to-seek-return-of-puigdemont-as-president

Reuters, 10.01.18: Catalan parties propose self-exiled former leader as president https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN1EZ11Y

The Local (Spain), 17.01.18: Catalan parliament meets as sacked leader seeks comeback https://www.thelocal.es/20180117/catalan-parliament-meets-as-sacked-leader-seeks-comeback

RFI, 17.01.18: Catalonia MPs set new collision course with Spain http://en.rfi.fr/20180117-catalonia-mps-set-new-collision-course-spain/

El País, 18.01.18: New Catalan parliament meets, but questions linger over key issues https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/01/17/inenglish/1516181046_546213.html

Euronews, 17.01.18: Doubts over what direction the Catalan Parliament will take http://www.euronews.com/2018/01/17/doubts-over-what-direction-the-catalan-parliament-will-take

Euro|topics, January 2018: Puigdemont put forward to lead Catalonia https://www.eurotopics.net/en/192453/puigdemont-put-forward-to-lead-catalonia

Politico [Opinion]: Catalonia won’t be silenced https://www.politico.eu/article/carles-puigdemont-catalonia-wont-be-silenced-independence-spanish-government-election/

Politico, 15.01.18: Puigdemont cannot govern from Belgium, says Rajoy https://www.politico.eu/article/mariano-rajoy-carles-puigdemont-cannot-govern-from-belgium-says-rajoy/

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