A DEFIANT Quim Torra took the oath as president of the Generalitat, or government, of Catalonia, yesterday pledging to act for the people and making no mention of Spain’s central government or royal family.
The fervently pro-independence MP was sworn in yesterday morning in a short, low-key ceremony with only a handful of family members and colleagues as guests.
He made no reference to the Spanish constitution or King Felipe VI and, in a form of words similar to those used in the acceptance speech of his predecessor, Carles Puigdemont’s, Torra said: “I promise to loyally fulfil the obligations of the post of president of the Generalitat faithfully to the will of the people of Catalonia, represented by the parliament.”
In a statement before the inauguration, Spanish President Mariano Rajoy’s executive said it would not be sending a representative to the event, which it said would “degrade the institution’s dignity”.
Also absent from the ceremony in the Palau de la Generalitat in Barcelona were a portrait of the Spanish king and the national flag – only the Catalan Estelada was displayed behind the desk where Torra took the oath.
Pinned to his lapel was a llaç groc, the yellow ribbon indicating support for Catalonia’s political prisoners.
Torra later tweeted: “Thank you, parents, for everything. Father, I know you would ask me to serve our country with all my strength; mother, your support encourages me every day.”
Meanwhile, Spanish prosecutors trying to extradite three Catalan leaders in Brussels have requested that the Spanish Supreme Court issues another European Arrest Warrant against Toni Comin, Meritxell Serret, and Lluis Puig.
The move comes after a Belgian judge dismissed the original on Wed-nesday because of “irregularities”.
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