The candidate for investiture as president of Catalonia, Quim Torra, has said that, if his nomination is successful, he will direct his government's work based on three main principles set out in the agreements between JxCat and ERC: "the principle of exile, the principle of the Catalan institutions and the principle of the empowered public which has to forge ahead with the constituent process".
This lunchtime, he made his first media appearance since his nomination yesterday, on Catalan broadcaster TV3. Asked whether he plans to enter into disobedience, Torra said he is only considering "the possibility of obeying the Parliament of Catalonia".
Apology for tweets
Torra also confronted the criticisms, hostility and insults which he has been subjected to in recent hours over some tweets he wrote in 2012. He lamented that he is "now under surveillance for some tweets made six years ago", adding that "if someone has felt offended, I apologise, because it wasn't my intention to offend".
Torra, who said he is decided to be a "republican president", but in an "exceptional and provisional" context, urged Spanish prime minister Rajoy to talk "whenever and wherever he wants".
As for his first government act once his ministers are nominated, Torra announced he will set up a "commissioner to investigate the consequences of article 155". On the subject of ministers, he didn't want to reveal any names.
The candidate also announced his intention to take over the government palace, and make "symbolic gestures, because we're in an exceptional situation", for example, hanging a yellow loop on the balcony. He didn't want to confirm, however, whether or not he will take over Puigdemont's office: "I don't know exactly where I will have to put myself, but it's not an important topic".
Humanitarian crisis
Torra insisted that the new Parliament needs "a strong government and a very strong country, because we have a monumental challenge", because there is "a humanitarian crisis, with people in prison and in exile".