Socialist politician Salvador Illa was sworn in on Saturday as the President of the Catalan Regional Government in a ceremony held at the government palace in Barcelona.
“By taking this position today, I am inheriting the hopes of the people of Catalonia,” said the 61-year-old, who gained prominence as Spain’s Minister of Health during the coronavirus pandemic.
The inauguration ceremony was held just two days after the Catalan separatist leader, Carles Puigdemont – for whom an arrest warrant has been issued – delivered a speech in the center of Barcelona.
He then fled, despite a heavy police presence.
On Friday, Puigdemont announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he had returned to Belgium, where he has lived since his initial escape in 2017.
At the start of the inauguration ceremony, Illa took a conciliatory stance toward his separatist predecessors.
“I have no doubt that all previous presidents have come to this office with the best intentions, to make Catalonia a better state,” he said, including Puigdemont.
Although Illa’s Socialist Party won the elections in May, it needs the support of the Republican Left of Catalonia and Comuns Alliance to govern.
On Thursday, 68 out of 135 members of the regional parliament in Barcelona voted in favor of Illa.
Spanish media have described his victory as a new beginning for the region, which has been shaken by disputes over the independence request for almost 10 years.
However, Illa is expected to find it difficult to calm the situation and reconcile Spain’s policy with Catalonia’s independence demands.
Although an amnesty has been declared for Catalan separatists, the decision does not apply to Puigdemont, who faces charges of personal enrichment.
Illa has called on the Spanish judiciary to extend the amnesty to Puigdemont, “quickly and without any justification.”
