Catalonia MPs vote to allow president to govern from abroad

Catalonia’s parliament has voted to change regional laws so that it can elect former leader Carles Puigdemont as president. The slim majority of separatist lawmakers voted in favor of allowing Puigdemont to be sworn in without being present and to govern from abroad, AP said. The move could be blocked in court. Puigdemont is currently on bail in Germany awaiting extradition to Spain. He is accused of rebellion and misuse of public funds in organizing an unauthorized referendum last year on Catalonia’s independence. Spain’s constitution says the country is indivisible.