ASSESSMENTS

Independence-Minded Catalonia Will Tread a More Cautious Path

May 14, 2018 | 19:15 GMT

Quim Torra, a strong advocate for Catalan succession, delivers remarks to the regional parliament during his investiture as the region's president on May 14.

Quim Torra gives a speech during the second day of the parliamentary session debating on his investiture as the new Catalan president at the regional parliament on May 14, 2018, in Barcelona, Spain.

(DAVID RAMOS/Getty Images)

Highlights

  • In Catalonia, pro-independence forces are once again in control of the regional government, but they will refrain from making any substantial unilateral decisions.
  • The new Catalan government will focus on more immediate goals, such as the freeing of secessionist leaders who are in prison, or the normalization of Catalan institutions after the conclusion of months of direct control by the central state.
  • Madrid will refrain from making any significant concessions to the separatists, which means that the issue of Catalan independence will not go away.

The Catalan parliament, ending months of uncertainty, on May 14 appointed Quim Torra, a fervent supporter of independence from Spain, as the regional president. Meanwhile, the Spanish central government will soon end its direct control of the Catalan government. Both events will lead to some degree of normalization in the region after months of direct Spanish government control. But they will also open the door for another round of confrontation between the region and the central government....

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