Catalans vote narrowly for separatist candidates

CATALONIA has taken a step closer to splitting from the rest of Spain with pro-independence parties set to win a majority in yesterday’s regional parliamentary election.

An exit poll showed the Together for Yes group may win between 63 and 66 seats in the 135-member parliament – just short of the 68 seats needed for a majority to push forward their plan to make Catalonia independent by 2017.

The radical left pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy party could also win 11 to 13 seats.

Final results were expected late last night or early today for the election to Catalonia’s parliament in Barcelona.

Secessionists have long pushed for an independence referendum in the north-eastern region, but Spain’s central government has not allowed one.

Secessionists argue that a majority would give them a democratic mandate to initiate a split from Spain – that could include a unilateral declaration

‘I feel part of Spain’

of independence. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says the Madrid government will use all legal means to prevent Catalonia from breaking away.

European leaders have also warned of ejection from the European Union.

Catalans from both sides of the divide are fiercely proud of their language, which is spoken along with Spanish and was suppressed under three decades of General Franco’s dictatorship.

Civil servant Jordi Perez, 50, was one of 5.3million Catalans of the region’s populace of 7.5million called to vote yesterday.

He said: ‘During three centuries they have robbed us of our culture. We have reached the moment that the Catalan people say enough is enough.’

However, teacher Sandra Guerrero, 30, voted for the Citizens party, which is against independence. She said: ‘I feel part of Spain. I am proud to be Catalan, but also to be Spanish.’