MADRID: The regional parliament of Catalonia is meeting to try to choose a new regional president, a day after the chamber approved a plan to set up a road map for independence from Spain by 2017.

Head of the pro-secession group and acting regional President Artur Mas is seeking majority support in the 135-seat chamber. But radical pro-independence allies have pledged to vote against him Tuesday because of his support for austerity measures and his party's links to corruption scandals.

Mas and the "Together for Yes" alliance won 62 seats in September elections but need the far-left CUP party and its 10 seats for a majority.

The two pushed through Monday's independence resolution with a 72-63 vote.

The Spanish government has pledged to halt the independence drive.