The Spanish government has replied to Carles Puigdemont's proposal to cede the presidency of Catalonia to Junts per Catalunya deputy Quim Torra, reminding him of his "obligation to respect the law", according to government sources.
"Whoever the candidate finally proposed by the speaker of the Parliament, Mr Torrent, is, the government of Spain reminds [them] that they have the obligation to respect the law and be in a position to fulfil their responsibilities as president of Catalonia," they say. The three candidates nominated previously have either been in exile, in pretrial detention or under criminal investigation.
"The Spanish government has always maintained that Catalonia needs a legal and effective government, which is concerned with the interests of its citizens and which governs for all of them, not for half," they add.