Catalan separatists increase majority in regional elections

BARCELONA: Separatist parties won enough seats on Sunday in Catalonia’s regional parliament to strengthen their majority, although a strong showing for the local branch of Spain’s ruling Socialists pointed to a dialogue, rather than breakup, with Madrid. With over 99% of ballots counted, separatists won 50.9% of the vote, surpassing the 50% threshold for the first time. The most likely scenario was for the two main separatist parties to extend their coalition government. The final outcome is unlikely, however, to lead to any repeat of the short-lived declaration of independence from Spain that took place in 2017.