Catalan secessionists ponder their future

BARCELONA, SPAIN >> After an almost surreal parliamentary election finished with a record-smashing turnout, the Spanish government in Madrid and the Catalan secessionists in Barcelona awoke Friday to find themselves right back where they started — stuck with each other, and hating it.

The three pro-independence parties won a paperthin majority of seats in the Catalan parliament, an electoral sprint made more impressive because one of their leaders was in prison and the others in exile.

But the secessionists did not win the future — not with this election, anyway.

Despite a turnout of more than 80 percent of 5.5 million eligible voters, the pro-independence parties captured less than half the vote, 48 percent.

Their opponents argue that this is hardly a mandate to declare independence and secede from Spain.

Catalonia’s former president, Carles Puigdemont, told reporters in Brussels on Friday that the situation back home was a mess.

Puigdemont called for sit-down talks with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, “anywhere but Spain,” he said, “for obvious reasons.”

The main reason is that in Spain, Puigdemont faces arrest on charges of sedition and rebellion, crimes that carry a 30year prison sentence.

“Now is the time for dialogue,” Puigdemont said.

The Spanish prime minister was dismissive. Rajoy said Friday that he would talk with whoever became the new head of the regional government — but they would have to do so in Catalonia.