MADRID - The regional president of Spain’s conflict-riven Catalonia says he will soon call an early election amid splits in his government’s unity. President Quim Torra, who leads a pro-Catalan independence administration, said Wednesday that he would set a date for the election once a new regional budget is approved. A regional election comes as the Catalan separatist movement struggles to maintain unity among its three main political parties. A regional election was not due until 2021. The separatist sentiment in Catalonia, a wealthy northeastern region, is Spain’s gravest political challenge in decades.

Source: thestar January 29, 2020 12:33 UTC