Jailed ‘rebel’ Jordi Sanchez makes second attempt at Catalan presidency after UN rights group gives support
The investiture that parliament’s speaker announced for Friday would mark Catalonia’s fourth attempt to choose a president since a loose alliance of secessionist groups won an election there in December
Catalonia’s parliament made a second attempt on Monday to put forward a pro-independence politician awaiting trial on charges of rebellion as the region’s new leader after a UN rights group said he should be allowed to run for office.
Lawmakers first selected Jordi Sanchez in March, but that bid was dropped as he was unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony because the government in Madrid had jailed him for helping orchestrate pro-independence protests last year.
The investiture that parliament’s speaker announced for Friday – but which Spain’s Supreme Court seems likely to block – would mark Catalonia’s fourth attempt to choose a president since a loose alliance of secessionist groups won an election there in December.
Spain’s central government called that vote when it imposed direct rule over Catalonia in October, after the wealthy northeastern region declared independence in an act that the courts said was illegal and that landed several members of the regional cabinet and civic leaders behind bars.
Along with Sanchez, Catalan lawmakers have put forward former leader Carles Puigdemont and his ally Jordi Turull as potential presidents.
Puigdemont, who fled Spain five months ago after his administration’s declaration of independence, withdrew his candidacy on March 1, and Turull fell short of majority support.