Catalonia: Quim Torra set to replace Puigdemont
The separatist majority in the Catalan parliament plans to elect Quim Torra as the new regional president on Monday. Torra, like his predecessor Carles Puigdemont, wants to establish an independent republic of Catalonia. Madrid's media see nothing good coming of Torra's candidacy.
Puigdemont replaced by another blockhead
Torra will adopt the same course pursued by Puigdemont, editor-in-chief Francisco Rosell fears in El Mundo:
“It makes no sense for Prime Minister Rajoy to entertain any false illusions. ... He can't afford to close his eyes to the reality of the situation. Puigdemont's puppet made this very clear yesterday when he said: 'If the government lifts Article 155 [with which Madrid suspended Catalonia's regional autonomy and deprived the regional government of its powers] there will be nothing preventing the construction of an independent state in the form of a republic'. This will no doubt force Rajoy to reactivate Article 155. ... The most xenophobic brand of separatism has gained control of the regional government and is resuming its rebellion riding on the back of a stubborn separatist donkey.”
Madrid needs a strategy against provocations
El País calls on Madrid to finally adopt a clear stance vis-à-vis the affronts coming from Catalonia:
“The EU will not tolerate the dangerous turn towards conflict and exclusion proposed by Torra, nor will the Spanish state or the constitution give in to this latest push by the separatists. ... If Torra is elected, this will demand a clear and decisive response from the constitutional forces - naturally on the legal level if the laws are violated, but above all on the political level. The separatists have made it clear that they are pursuing a single policy, namely provocation. The constitutionalists need to come up with their own strategy beyond reacting to each new step in this strategy of provocation.”