The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Exit polls suggest tight finish in Catalonia’s regional election
Spain: No repeat of violent scenes that marred controversial referendum
Catalonia’s regional election is going down to the wire as two exit polls show it is too close to call.
The biggest-selling newspaper La Vanguard predicted nationalist parties would win the most seats, but the largest single party would be the main unionist group, Ciutadans (The Citizen party, known as the Cs).
This was echoed by an exit poll from the pro-catalan television station TV3, which reported the Cs would win the single largest share of the vote, but nationalist parties would come out on top in terms of seats.
Election officials said 68% of the electorate had voted by 6pm Spanish time, suggesting a high turnout and long count before the real result is known.
It follows a day of calm democracy in Catalonia, a contrast to the scenes of violence in October when an independence referendum was held.
Spanish police beat voters in a bid to close down the vote, provoking international condemnation.
The referendum returned over 90% support for independence but less than half of Catalans voted and the ballot was illegal under Spanish law.
Yesterday’s election was called after Madrid dissolved the last Catalan government and has become an unofficial referendum on independence.
The mood has been one of quiet determination to be heard on a matter which has divided this region.
“It is so different from last time,” Anna Mundet Molas, a pro-independence supporter, tells me as she watches people vote at the Cervantes School in central Barcelona.
The city is not be-decked with posters or flags. It is as if the population have toned their emotions down from the violence of two months ago.
The atmosphere in the Cervantes School was relaxed – people queued patiently to vote, then hung around chatting to friends.
With polls showing nationalist and unionists almost neck and neck, there might be long negotiations to agree who forms the next regional government.
Of the seven parties contesting the vote, Podemos and the Greens have formed an alliance of radicals who claim to be unaligned on the constitutional question.
The result in terms of seats won and a government formed matters, but so does the share of votes between nationalist and unionist parties.
“What matters,” Anna said, “is if we (pro-nationalist parties) get over 50% of the vote – then we have won legitimacy in the eyes of the rest of Europe.”
The nationalist believes Madrid and the EU will find it impossible to deny Catalonia’s claim to sovereignty if more than half of voters at this election opt for independence parties.
That would present a major challenge to the Spanish state and also undermine the EU’S model of big states.
The batons rained down at some polling stations in October because the vote was illegal and Madrid wanted to stop the referendum on independence.
It was a clumsy response to a wellintentioned effort at democratic choice, and provoked international outcry.
Madrid followed up by imprisoning the nationalist leaders, dissolving the regional government and calling this snap election.
Everyone I spoke to understood this election was a referendum of sorts on Catalonia’s future, but few believed there would be a clear outcome.
Since October, the nationalists have signalled they would rather negotiate a new settlement for Catalonia than declare freedom.
There is concern about political upheaval damaging the economy, and few have an appetite for violence.
Observers say the election will be swung by the suburbs of Barcelona.
These communities are dominated by people from other parts of Spain who have settled in the rich northern region of Catalonia. If they do come out to vote, then the unionists may win the day.