Catalonia's leader-to-be calls for independence process to start

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Catalan regional caretaker president Artur Mas (L) with Carles Puigdemont, who will be the candidate for the Catalan regional presidency (AFP Photo/Lluis Gene)

Barcelona (AFP) - Carles Puigdemont, the man who has been chosen to lead Catalonia to independence from Spain, called Sunday for the secession process to start in a speech to the wealthy region's parliament.
"We need... to start the process to set up an independent state in Catalonia," he said just hours before local lawmakers were expected to vote him in as new regional president.