An abstention by lawmakers from the anti-capitalist CUP party left Turull with 64 votes when he needed 68. BARCELONA, Spain—The separatist majority of Catalonia’s parliament failed to elect a regional president during a vote held Thursday, starting a two-month countdown to would end with another election being called in the restive corner of Spain. The regional parliament now has two months to elect a president and form a government before a new election is triggered. Turull earned the votes of his “Together For Catalonia” group and the Republican Left, while the CUP’s four members abstained. Also Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal to release two other high-profile separatists from pre-trial detention while a judge investigates Catalonia’s attempt to secede.

Source: thestar March 22, 2018 22:52 UTC