Catalans Cast Votes in Election That Could Trigger Move Toward Secession
- 9 years ago
Catalans were voting Sunday in an election that could determine whether their economically powerful region remains tied to Spain or tries to undertake what would likely be a contentious process of separation.
While the vote is for a new regional parliament, a slate of pro-independence candidates known as Together for Yes said the ballot would also serve as a plebiscite on whether Catalonia should declare independence from Spain.
Together for Yes said that if secessionists win a majority of the 135 seats, they plan to take all the necessary steps to make Catalonia a new European nation within 18 months.
The last pre-election polls showed Together for Yes falling just short of a parliamentary majority.
Some 5.5 million Catalans at home and abroad were eligible to vote.
Seeming to portend a high turnout was that fact that 131,000 people had sought to vote by mail, 56% more than during the 2012 election, Catalan election officials said.
While the vote is for a new regional parliament, a slate of pro-independence candidates known as Together for Yes said the ballot would also serve as a plebiscite on whether Catalonia should declare independence from Spain.
Together for Yes said that if secessionists win a majority of the 135 seats, they plan to take all the necessary steps to make Catalonia a new European nation within 18 months.
The last pre-election polls showed Together for Yes falling just short of a parliamentary majority.
Some 5.5 million Catalans at home and abroad were eligible to vote.
Seeming to portend a high turnout was that fact that 131,000 people had sought to vote by mail, 56% more than during the 2012 election, Catalan election officials said.