BARCELONA: A small Catalan separatist party said on Sunday it would abstain in a second vote to elect a regional leader paving the way for pro-independence candidate Quim Torra to secure a majority and form a government.Torra, a close ally of former leader Carles Puigdemont , failed to win sufficient votes to become leader on Saturday.But if the far-left CUP party's four parliamentarians abstain in the vote on Monday, he is expected to secure the simple majority needed to become leader, ending a political impasse that has lasted for months.In his address to the regional parliament on Saturday, Torra said he would work towards the creation of a Catalan republic and respect the outcome of last year's vote on secession, which was deemed illegal by Madrid.Catalonia has been without an administration since December despite pro-independence parties winning most seats in a December election called by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy after Puigdemont's secession attempt.

Source: Economic Times May 13, 2018 14:26 UTC