New Catalan president offers to reinstate deposed ministers in jail or abroad

The new president of the Catalan government, Quim Torra, wants to restore all those affected by the application of  article 155 under Spanish direct rule. ‘The principle of restitution is the basis of this government, we want to restore everyone” he said in a radio interview. Torra will offer all deposed ministers in prison and exile the possibility to command their departments. ‘The final decision will be up to them, but for me it would be a great honor if they accepted’ he said. The president also recalled that he intends to invest Carles Puigdemont in the future.

The Spanish government delegate in Catalonia has already said that those in prison and exile cannot be ministers. 

Foreign affairs

Torra explained that his executive will highlight foreign action and, therefore, open new delegations around the world, and assured that the Spanish government was not entitled to close the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia, so that the new government will ask the entities that took part in it to reopen it.

Torra will meet Puigdemont today in Berlin. His intention once a new government is formed is to establish large agreements. ‘That’s why we must talk about strategy and not so much about names’. The Catalan president will visit the political prisoners in Alcalá Meco, Estremera and Soto del Real tomorrow, and he is also planning to meet with all the politicians in exile. ‘If I do not, I do not know what I am doing here’ he concluded.