BARCELONA: Catalonia on Tuesday postponed the election of a new regional president until further notice after Spain’s highest court said the sole nominee, separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, was ineligible while he remains a fugitive from justice in Belgium.
The industrial northeastern region’s drive for a split from Spain has led it to clash with the country’s central government and judiciary which say a declaration of independence is against the country’s 39-year-old constitution.
The speaker of the house, Roger Torrent, gave no reason for the delay but said he would not nominate an alternative candidate. Separatists have a majority in the regional assembly and Puigdemont would almost certainly win the vote.