Catalonia’s parliament has elected a new president during an extraordinary session. The two pro-independence parties that won the last regional elections reached a last minute deal to form a government, after acting president Artur Mas accepted to step aside for another candidate from his coalition. The decision to push forward with a new government paves the way for the creation of an independent Catalan state within 18 months, and is likely to be met with strong opposition from the Spanish government.