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Pro-independence parties win majority of seats, but not votes in Spain's Catalonia

Xinhua, September 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Pro-independence political parties won the majority of seats, but not votes, in Sunday's parliamentary elections in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia.

With a clear rise in participation, 77.4 percent as opposed to the 67.76 percent of 2012, pro-independence political parties won 72 of 135 seats in the parliament with 47.8 percent of votes in a regional election framed as a vote on independence.

The main pro-independence party, "Junts pel Si" (Together for Yes), a joint list of Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya (CDC), left-wing Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) and other groups supporting independence, won 62 seats in the parliament and 39.55 percent of vote. Leftist and anti-capitalist party CUP (Candidatura d'Unitat Popular) won 10 seats, bringing the total to 72.

Antonio Banos, from CUP, the party that was key to obtaining a pro-independence majority, said after learning of the results that Catalan citizens made it clear that they wanted an independent rule.

CUP and Junts pel Si will start negotiations on Monday.

On the other hand, parties that were not pro-independence, such as the center-right Ciutadans, gained ground, obtaining 25 seats and 17.9 percent of vote, climbing from the nine seats of 2012 elections. It has become the main opposition party in the parliament. It was followed by the Socialist party with 16 seats and 12.7 percent of vote.

The political party Catalonia, Yes we Can that includes Pablo Iglesias' party Podemos, won 11 seats and 8.9 percent of vote. The party does not directly support independence but they are in favour of holding a consultation on the relationship between Spain and Catalonia.

Meanwhile, Spain's ruling People's Party (PP) obtained 11 seats and 8.5 percent of vote.

The president of the regional government of Catalonia, Artur Mas, said the results gave them strength to go on with the process and asked the Spanish government to accept the results.

"We ask everybody to accept the victory of Catalonia and the victory of yes," while assuring that they have legitimacy to go on with the project. "We will do it," he said.

However, the Spanish government believed Mas' plan failed as they said he did not have enough support from Catalan society in either votes or seats. Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will analyze on Monday the results along with other members from the government and the PP.

Ines Arrimadas of Ciutadans said "a majority of Catalans opted for living together and unity", adding that taking into account the results, Mas should resign.

Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Socialist Party and main opposition party in the Spanish parliament, said the results showed "a majority do not want the independence" stating, "those who defended it have lost".

Mas had called for early elections last August billing them as a plebiscite on independence from Spain. However, Rajoy said in July that Catalonia would not be granted independence, regardless of the election results. Endit