Salvador Illa Confirmed as Catalan Leader Amid Separatist Turmoil

Catalonia's parliament confirmed Salvador Illa as head of the Catalan government, ending a decade of separatist rule. Separatist leader Carles Puigdemont momentarily upstaged Illa's investiture by appearing at a Barcelona rally and promising to revive Catalan independence efforts before evading arrest.

Catalonia's parliament on Thursday confirmed Salvador Illa, an ally of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, as the head of the Catalan government. The confirmation follows the Socialists' victory in May's regional election, effectively ending more than a decade of separatist rule.

In a dramatic turn of events, separatist leader Carles Puigdemont appeared at a rally in Barcelona, overshadowing Illa's investiture. Puigdemont, defying an arrest warrant after seven years of self-imposed exile, vanished before police could apprehend him.

Addressing the crowd, Puigdemont declared his intent to rekindle the independence movement that threw Spain into a severe political crisis seven years ago. Under his leadership, Catalonia had attempted to secede from Spain following a referendum that was declared illegal by the courts.