New Catalonia Leader Vows Secession From Spain by Mid-2017

Lawmakers in Spain’s pro-independence Catalonia region ended months of political gridlock Sunday, swearing in a new separatist leader who promised secession within 18 months. Carles Puigdemont was confirmed late Sunday by a vote of 70-63, one day after his predecessor, Artur Mas, scrapped his plan to regain the presidency after another regional faction refused to support him. Shortly after Sunday’s vote, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy repeated long-standing promises to block...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - dimanche 10 janvier 2016