Catalan parliament has completed negotiations within parties to allow for the selection of a pro-independence candidate to assume presidency of Catalan parliament and end the emergency direct rule imposed by Madrid.
The Catalan regional parliament is set to elect Quim Torra with a simple majority after the far left pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy (cup) agreed to not block the vote.
Mr Torra was handpicked by the exiled Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who faces jail on rebellion charges if he returns to Spain from Germany.
Spanish President Marcas Rajoy said that constitutional direct rule could be used again if the next regional leadership did not respect the law.