Catalonia's pro-independence leader says he will call a new local election if there is no agreement in the coming days to re-elect him as president of the powerful northeastern Spanish region
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Catalonia's pro-independence leader says he will call a new regional election if there is no agreement in the coming days to re-elect him as president of the powerful northeastern Spanish region.
Artur Mas, who promises Catalonia's independence from Spain by 2017, said the region's deputies have until Sunday to agree on supporting him. Otherwise, he will call an election Monday.
Mas' ruling conservative Convergence party and the Republican Left of Catalonia group joined forces under the "Together for Yes" alliance to win 62 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament last September. But they needed the far-left CUP's 10 seats to secure Mas a workable majority and further the independence push. The CUP, however, has ruled out supporting him.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mas said Tuesday he would make no further offers to the CUP.