Quim Torra sworn in as head of Catalonia regional government

Newly elected Catalonia leader Quim Torra
Photo: Reuters

A new Catalonia regional government has been sworn-in and it will be led by Quim Torra, a close aide to former Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont.

Nationalists regained control of Catalonia’s regional government on Saturday as the new cabinet was sworn in, automatically ending just over seven months of direct rule from Madrid by Spain’s central government.

Torra takes over on same day Socialist Pedro Sanchez, who has said he wants talks on Catalonia but opposes any independence referendum, was officially sworn in as new Spanish prime minister.

Sanchez’ predecessor, the conservative Mariano Rajoy, imposed direct rule over Catalonia at the end of October after nationalists led by Puigdemont held an independence referendum deemed illegal by Spanish courts.

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According to the Spanish constitution, direct rule from Madrid was due to end the moment a new regional government was put in place in Barcelona.

It took several tense months, after snap regional elections were held in December, for Catalan nationalists to get a new cabinet approved by the regional parliament and go past Madrid’s moves to block any candidate in self-imposed exile, like Puigdemont, or in jail.