Barcelona

Catalan parliament speaker proposes Puigdemont as region's president

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

The speaker of the Catalan parliament on Monday proposed the region's ousted leader Carles Puigdemont as president of Catalonia following an election in December in which separatist parties once again won an absolute majority. Roger Torrent said Puigdemont's candidacy to once again head Catalonia's regional government is "absolutely legitimate", even though the secessionist leader faces criminal proceedings over his roleRead more

Can govern from Belgium

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Catalonia's former leader Carles Puigdemont, who was sacked by Madrid over his attempt to break from Spain, said Friday he can govern the region from Belgium where he is in self-imposed exile as he eyes a comeback after scoring big in elections. "There are only two options: in prison I would not be able to address people, write, meet people," Puigdemont,Read more

Ex-Catalan leader says can govern region from Belgium

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Catalonia's former leader Carles Puigdemont, who was sacked by Madrid over his attempt to break from Spain, said Friday he can govern the region from Belgium as he eyes a comeback after scoring big in elections. "There are only two options: in prison I would not be able to address people, write, meet people... The only way is to continueRead more

Catalan MPs elect separatist speaker

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Catalan MPs in Barcelona have elected a pro-independence speaker at their first meeting since Madrid dissolved the region's parliament. The choice of Roger Torrent is the first step to reinstating local government. Separatist parties, who remain dominant after December's election, want Carles Puigdemont to be president again. But the ex-leader risks arrest if he returns from self-imposed exile in Belgium. He is wanted byRead more

Catalan lawmakers elect separatist as parliamentary speaker

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Catalan lawmakers on Wednesday elected a separatist as parliamentary speaker, a first step in a plan by pro-independence deputies to get regional leader Carles Puigdemont, in self-exile in Belgium, back into power. A member of the left-wing ERC party, Roger Torrent was elected with 65 votes against 56 for an anti-independence candidate in an assembly where eight seats were empty,Read more

Catalan parliament meets for first time since failed secession

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Catalonia's parliament met Wednesday for the first time since it was dissolved following a failed attempt to break from Spain in what will see separatists start the process to get sacked regional leader Carles Puigdemont back into power. Pro-independence parties are in the majority in the assembly after winning regional elections on December 21 called by Prime Minister Mariano RajoyRead more

Spanish tax authorities scrutinise Messi foundation

MADRID - Muslimchronicle

Spanish tax authorities are investigating whether payments from FC Barcelona to Lionel Messi's foundation were used to help the player evade taxes, Spanish daily El Mundo reported on Saturday. The newspaper, which has acquired Football Leaks documents, reported that the club gave the foundation "at least 12.7 million euros ($15.5 million) between 2010 and 2016". The paper said that the payments fromRead more

Spain to oppose ex-Catalan leader being re-elected

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Spain's government will go to the country's Constitutional Court if Catalonia's former president Carles Puigdemont, in exile in Belgium, attempts to be re-elected into office from abroad, a government source said Thursday. Separatist parties won an absolute parliamentary majority in December regional elections, and the two biggest groupings -- Together for Catalonia and ERC -- have agreed to pick PuigdemontRead more

Barcelona to unveil 160m Coutinho

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Philippe Coutinho has been presented as a Barcelona player for the first time. The Catalan giants have agreed a deal reportedly worth up to £142 million with Liverpool to bring the Brazilian playmaker to Camp Nou, after a series of bids failed in August. Coutinho will be formally unveiled on Monday, with a photo shoot on the Camp Nou pitch to be followedRead more

Coutinho misses Liverpool trip as Barcelona talk grows

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Philippe Coutinho finally got his wish on Saturday when Barcelonaagreed to sign the Brazilian star from Liverpool for 160 million euros ($192 million) in the third richest deal of all time. The swoop for the 25-year-old attacking midfielder -- which contains a 400 million euro release clause -- will be the third biggest deal in football. Last year, ParisRead more