Catalonia elects a new parliament. The question is how strong the separatists will perform. The head of the regional government could be Carles Puigdemont, who lives in exile and is wanted on an arrest warrant.
An early parliamentary election began in the separatist Spanish region of Catalonia on Sunday morning.
The separatist former incumbent Carles Puigdemont is considered one of the favorites for the office of head of the regional government. However, he is still living in exile because he is wanted by the Spanish judiciary on an arrest warrant in connection with the failed secession attempt in 2017 under his leadership. This could only be lifted once an amnesty agreed with the government in Madrid is expected to come into force in June.
The election is also seen as a vote on this controversial amnesty, which, according to the socialist Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is intended to ease the Catalan conflict and take the wind out of the sails of the separatists. The separatists, on the other hand, are pushing for a new referendum on independence. If they win a parliamentary majority again, it would be a setback for Sánchez, who wants to prevent secession.
Around 5.75 million residents of the economically strong region in northeastern Spain are eligible to vote. According to surveys, Sánchez’s Socialist Party is likely to become the strongest force again with just under 30 percent, but will once again clearly miss an absolute majority. Puigdemont’s liberal-conservative separatist Junts party could come in close behind in second place, ahead of the party of current regional government leader Pere Aragonès from the left-wing separatist ERC party.
The first forecasts based on post-election surveys are expected shortly after the polls close at 8 p.m. There should be reliable results after counting ballot papers during the night.
Poll results from previous elections
Source: Stern
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