Pro-independence Catalan parties are currently negotiating to call a presidential investiture debate for tomorrow. This follows the possibility that Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena's decision to summons minister Jordi Turull and the other deputies included in the investigation into last year's referendum should lead to the third candidate for investiture proposed by JxCat being blocked. JxCat put the possibility on the table for negotiation with ERC and CUP, El Nacional has learnt.
The Parliament's speaker, Roger Torrent, had today announced he would open a new round of talks with the parties this Thursday to present a new candidate for investiture after receiving a letter from Jordi Sànchez removing his name from consideration.
At this point, the option of minister Turull as candidate was raised, the third option JxCat had in backup. This evening he is to receive the support of his parliamentary party, once formally proposed by president Carles Puigdemont.
However, this morning, the judge investigating last year's referendum summonsed the minister for Friday to notify him of his decision on details of their prosecution alongside the other members of the Catalan Parliament named in the case. That could lead to him returning to prison, if the judge decides he poses a risk of reoffending.
This situation has animated discussions between pro-independence parties to decide on a response to the attempt to obstruct the third candidate too. The discussions are against the clock, given the tight calendar.
There is a precedent for such speed. In 2016, the investiture of Carles Puigdemont came together in a matter of hours. His predecessor, Artur Mas, appeared on the afternoon of Saturday 10th January to announce he was stepping aside, after an agreement with CUP, and Puigdemont was invested the next day, Sunday 11th.