Catalan pro-independence parties regain majority in elections
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Pro-independence parties in Catalonia held their absolute majority in this week’s elections, dealing a huge blow to the Spanish government which had held the elections in the hope of removing the secessionist parties.
The ousted President of the autonomous Catalan region, Carles Puigdemont, called the result a “slap in the face” of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
The three parties who supported Catalan’s move for independence won a total of 70 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament.
Together for Catalonia – the party led by Puigdemont – won 34 seats, the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) took 32, and the far-left, anti-capitalist Popular Unity Candidacy, took four.
Thursday’s election was called by the Spanish Premier Mariano Rajoy in October after he used article 155 of Spain’s constitution to gain control of Catalonia and oust the government over its unilateral decision to hold a referendum vote and declare independence.
The ousted Catalan President, Puigdemont, had been campaigning for the elections from abroad after fleeing to Brussels, stating he would not receive a fair trial in Spain for his various charges, including rebellion, sedition, and the misuse of public fund.
Oriol Junqeras, Catalonia’s former vice-president and leader of the ERC, is in jail along with two more leaders who were campaigning and supporting secession from Spain.
Catalonia held the referendum on independence on Oct. 1, six days after the Kurdistan Region’s own vote for secession. Over 90 percent of Catalan voters supported statehood.
Puigdemont stated that the election results show the will and strength of the Catalan people.
“As Catalan’s president, I wish to congratulate the people for delivering an indisputable result,” he said in Brussels. “We have won this election under exceptional circumstances, with candidates in prison, with the government in exile and without having the same resources as the state.”
Editing by Nadia Riva
