Candidate Quim Torra fell short of the absolute majority of 68 votes needed to be elected in the first round. Four members of the radical far-left CUP party abstained. Catalonia's pro-independence parties risk an election being automatically triggered if they don't form a government by May 22. Until now, CUP has demanded that Puigdemont be re-elected even if from abroad, an option Spanish courts have prohibited. "Whatever the chosen option is, it will be an option for independence and the republic," CUP lawmaker Carles Riera said.

Source: ABC News May 12, 2018 17:51 UTC