Catalan parliament to start debating Saturday on Puigdemont successor

Barcelona (AFP) – Catalonia’s parliament will start debating Saturday on whether to appoint pro-independence newcomer Quim Torra as regional president, after deposed leader Carles Puigdemont stepped aside from the running and picked him as his candidate.

After holding talks with various parties, Catalan parliamentary speaker Roger Torrent officially proposed Torra as the presidential candidate and called a session on “Saturday at midday,” the regional assembly said in a statement.