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Catalonia vote: Nationalist parties 'on course to win' | Catalonia vote: Nationalist parties 'on course to win' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Exit polls in the Spanish region of Catalonia suggest pro-independence parties have won Sunday's elections. | |
The main separatist alliance "Junts per Si" (Together for Yes) is set to win 63-66 of the 135 seats, according to the poll for local broadcaster TV3. | |
The far-left separatist CUP looks set to secure 11-13 seats, the poll said. | |
"Junts per Si" and the CUP said before the vote that a majority would allow them to declare independence from Spain unilaterally within 18 months. | |
The central government in Madrid has pledged to block such moves in court. | The central government in Madrid has pledged to block such moves in court. |
The pro-independence parties have said they consider Sunday's vote a de facto referendum on independence from Spain. | |
They argue that the Spanish government has consistently refused to allow a legally recognised referendum to take place, ignoring an unofficial vote backing independence in November 2014. | |
Opinion polls suggest a majority of Catalans favour a referendum on independence but are evenly divided over whether they want to secede. | |
Catalonia's quarrel with Spain explained | Catalonia's quarrel with Spain explained |
Independence debate gets personal ahead of Spain vote | Independence debate gets personal ahead of Spain vote |
'Nonsense' | 'Nonsense' |
Polling stations in the wealthy north-eastern province opened at 07:00 GMT and closed at 18:00 GMT. | Polling stations in the wealthy north-eastern province opened at 07:00 GMT and closed at 18:00 GMT. |
More than five million people were eligible to vote. | |
The ruling Convergencia party of Catalan leader Artur Mas and the Esquerra Republicana party put up a single list of candidates - under the "Together for Yes" banner. | |
The anti-independence vote in Catalonia is split between a number of groups, including Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's Popular Party. | The anti-independence vote in Catalonia is split between a number of groups, including Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's Popular Party. |
The centre-right government in Madrid has described any breakaway plans as "a nonsense". | The centre-right government in Madrid has described any breakaway plans as "a nonsense". |
Mr Rajoy argues that because the loss of Catalonia would affect all of Spain, the democratic approach would be for all of the country to vote in a referendum on Catalonia's future. | Mr Rajoy argues that because the loss of Catalonia would affect all of Spain, the democratic approach would be for all of the country to vote in a referendum on Catalonia's future. |