Puigdemont seeks talks with Rajoy after poll win

ARITZ PARRA CIARAN GILES

seats in the parliament. Mr Puigdemont’s Together for Catalonia snared 34 seats in the 135-seat assembly, making it the most popular “independentista” party.

Two other pro-independence parties made up the dominant bloc: the left-wing republican ERC party, which collected 32 seats, and the radical, anti-capitalist CUP, which has four seats.

Mr Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party came last with just three seats in what was a major blow to the country’s governing party.

Yes parties took nearly half of all votes and more than their No rivals. There was also a block of votes for a slate neutral or ambivalent on independence.

The slim “Yes” parliamentary majority will allow them to negotiate the formation of a government. Past squabbles between them suggest this will not be easy.

Fernando Vallespin, a professor of political studies at Madrid’s Autonomous University, said there were many unpredictable factors clouding the immediate future of Catalonia.

These included the legal issues and whether the pro-independence parties can find common ground.

A reminder of the legal woes for independentistes came when a judge investigating them for leading what Spain says was an illegal independence push in October announced the rebellion and sedition probe will be extended to six more Catalan politicians.

Mr Rajoy said he expects a “new era based on dialogue” to begin in Catalonia, which although routinely referred to a country ranks as one of 17 devolved regions under the compromise constitution introduced after the 1975 death of Spanish dictator

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Francisco Franco. The Spanish PM said during a news conference that the election’s outcome showed a diversity of views exist in Catalonia, which compel the new government to abide by the law.

He said he will talk with the country’s new leaders so long as they do not violate Spain’s constitution.

Newspapers in Barcelona stressed that Mr Puigdemont and his allies had won. “Yes” parties took more votes, they pointed out.

“Seguim”, declared the daily El Punt Avui, “We go on”. This headline came on a