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The separatist parties managed to increase their majority in Sunday’s parliamentary elections in the region of Catalonia, which is moving away from Spain. Difficult government negotiations are imminent.
In the regional elections of the Spanish region of Catalonia, the independentistas increased their majority on Sunday. After counting 99 percent of the votes, three parties that advocate the separation of Madrid could have 74 of the 135 seats in the autonomous parliament. The Socialists, who are against a secession of the region in the northeast of the country, received the most votes with more than 23 percent and can count on 33 seats.
The Spanish central government in Madrid hoped that the independence parties JxC and ERC, which ruled in Barcelona, would be replaced by the socialist Salvador Illa. Instead, the separatist party “Together for Catalonia” (JxC) is expected to have 32 seats, the more moderate ERC 33 and the radical CUP nine seats.
A tripartite coalition would have four more seats than the previous divided coalition of JxC and ERC. Both parties had already ruled out forming a coalition with the Socialists this week.
ERC’s top candidate, 38-year-old lawyer Pere Aragonés, has good prospects for the post of Prime Minister. “We detained a (Spanish) state company to drive the separatists out of the institutions,” the politician said after the results were announced in the evening.
In the center, Spain’s largest opposition party, the Popular Conservative Party, suffered a severe defeat. It finished last with just 3.8 percent and 3 seats and was overtaken by the right-wing populist Vox party, which jumped to 7.7 percent and 11 seats. The liberal Ciudadanos party collapsed, losing 30 of its 36 previous seats after turning to the right.
Around 5.5 million people were summoned on Sunday to cast their vote. Participation fell to a record low, also due to the tense situation of the crown in the region. Only 54.4 percent of those eligible to vote cast their vote. In previous elections it was almost 80 percent. Catalans are deeply divided on the question of independence: in the latest opinion polls, almost 50 percent were against independence from Spain, and about 45 percent were in favor.
(APA / AFP)
