Poll seen as moment of truth for voters

Catalans voted on Thursday in a crucial election that could mark a turning point for their region, just two months after a failed secession bid triggered Spain’s worst political crisis in decades.

Will voters again hand victory to pro-independence parties that tried to break Catalonia from Spain, one of whose candidates is in jail and the other is currently in self-imposed exile in Belgium?

Catalans on both sides of the divide saw the day as a potential moment of truth for their region, following weeks of upheaval and protests unseen since democracy was reinstated following the death in 1975 of dictator Gen Francisco Franco.

While the independence question is far from new, it was the referendum on October 1 -and a heavy police crackdown on voters -- that focused the world’s attention on the region.

Some 5.5 million people are registered to vote in Thursday’s election which is likely to see seven parties winning mandates in the 135-seat regional parliament.

The vote is widely seen as a plebiscite on the independence question in Catalonia.

Crucially, however, even if the pro-independence camp wins, it is not expected to attempt another breakaway from Spain but rather try to enter into negotiations with Madrid. AFP

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