Catalonia's separatist president signed a decree Tuesday nominating an administration that no longer includes jailed and exiled former ministers who backed its independence push, his office said in a statement. Spain's central government earlier this month recognised the powers of newly elected Catalan leader Quin Torra but refused to ratify his choice of councillors because four of them are facing charges linked to last year's independence drive, calling their nomination "a new provocation".
Two of the four men are in custody awaiting trial at a jail near Madrid, while the other two are in self-imposed exile in Belgium. Madrid has vowed to maintain direct rule over Catalonia - which it imposed after the region made a failed declaration of independence in October - until a new regional government is in place. Under the terms of emergency legislation brought in to take over the Catalan administration, Madrid must lift direct rule once a Catalan government is fully formed and cabinet members are sworn in.
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