Shifting away from separatists, Catalonia's parliament swears in Socialist Party president

By Alyssa McMurry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - The Catalan parliament ushered in a new era on Thursday night, electing Socialist Salvador Illa as the region’s new president. This is the first time a Socialist has led the separatist-dominated region since 2010.

“I will try to rise to the occasion: I will govern for everyone, serving with plurality and respect,” Illa, Spain’s former health minister, said after being elected.

Catalonia held elections in May, which resulted in a hung parliament. It took months of negotiations to reach this point.

In the end, the Socialists won the backing of the left-wing separatist party ERC.

In exchange for their support, Spain’s progressive government has promised to give Catalonia more financial autonomy, upsetting other regions in Spain, including those led by Socialists.

The ERC has made it clear that if Illa and the Socialists do not live up to the promises, they will not allow him to govern.

Illa’s election was overshadowed by the dramatic appearance of Catalonia’s fugitive former president, Carles Puigdemont, right before Thursday’s parliamentary session got underway.

Puigdemont, who had been evading arrest in France and Belgium since leading the failed 2017 independence push, gave a brief speech outside the Catalan parliament, marking the first time he has been seen in Spain in nearly seven years.

Despite an active arrest warrant, his televised speech lasted around five minutes, defying arrest and reminding voters that the independence movement is still thriving.

There was a heavy police presence at his rally, which had been publicly announced beforehand.

However, police and the media were under the impression that he would try to enter the parliament building. Instead, he managed to disappear without a trace.

Now 12 hours since Puigdemont appeared in central Barcelona, his whereabouts remain unknown.

Two members of the Catalan police force have been detained, according to local daily La Vanguardia. One of them is suspected of having driven the fugitive leader away in his car after the rally.

After Puigdemont vanished, a major police operation collapsed traffic in Barcelona, trying to catch the wanted leader fleeing the city.

After nearly four hours, the operation was called off.

Earlier this year, the Spanish government passed an amnesty bill that was supposed to clear the way for Puigdemont's return.

However, the Supreme Court ruled that an embezzlement charge against him could not be pardoned, which is why he still faces arrest.