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| Catalonia vote: Pro-independence parties win elections | Catalonia vote: Pro-independence parties win elections |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pro-independence parties in Spain's Catalonia region have won an absolute majority in regional elections. | Pro-independence parties in Spain's Catalonia region have won an absolute majority in regional elections. |
| The main separatist alliance and a smaller nationalist party won 72 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament. | The main separatist alliance and a smaller nationalist party won 72 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament. |
| However, the pro-independence parties fell just short of getting 50% of the vote, winning 1.9 million out of 4 million ballots cast. | However, the pro-independence parties fell just short of getting 50% of the vote, winning 1.9 million out of 4 million ballots cast. |
| The separatists say the victory gives them a clear mandate to form an independent Catalan state. | The separatists say the victory gives them a clear mandate to form an independent Catalan state. |
| Spain's central government in Madrid has pledged to challenge any unilateral moves towards independence in court. | Spain's central government in Madrid has pledged to challenge any unilateral moves towards independence in court. |
| The "Junts per Si" ("Together for Yes") alliance won 62 seats. If it combines with the far-left separatist CUP party, which won 10 seats, it will be able to form a parliamentary majority. | The "Junts per Si" ("Together for Yes") alliance won 62 seats. If it combines with the far-left separatist CUP party, which won 10 seats, it will be able to form a parliamentary majority. |
| "We have won," Catalan regional President Artus Mas told his cheering supporters late on Sunday. | "We have won," Catalan regional President Artus Mas told his cheering supporters late on Sunday. |
| After a celebration rally, the pro-independence camp's leaders said they would now proceed towards the creation of an independent Catalan state. | After a celebration rally, the pro-independence camp's leaders said they would now proceed towards the creation of an independent Catalan state. |
| "We have a clear, absolute majority in the Catalan parliament to go ahead," Mr Mas said. | "We have a clear, absolute majority in the Catalan parliament to go ahead," Mr Mas said. |
| Analysis: BBC's Tom Burridge, Barcelona | Analysis: BBC's Tom Burridge, Barcelona |
| The result was more ambiguous than the positive rhetoric suggests. The pro-independence camp continues to say they are ready to break away from Spain, even in the face of strong opposition from the Spanish government. | The result was more ambiguous than the positive rhetoric suggests. The pro-independence camp continues to say they are ready to break away from Spain, even in the face of strong opposition from the Spanish government. |
| But they know that would be controversial and complicated. In truth, their aim is still to get a legally-recognised referendum. | But they know that would be controversial and complicated. In truth, their aim is still to get a legally-recognised referendum. |
| So they will continue to pile the pressure on the government, safe in the knowledge that a Spanish general election is less than three months away. | So they will continue to pile the pressure on the government, safe in the knowledge that a Spanish general election is less than three months away. |
| A more fractured political landscape at the national level suggests there will either be a change in who holds power, or at least the position of the governing Popular Party (PP) will be weakened. And that might lead to a change of stance over the Catalan question in Madrid. | A more fractured political landscape at the national level suggests there will either be a change in who holds power, or at least the position of the governing Popular Party (PP) will be weakened. And that might lead to a change of stance over the Catalan question in Madrid. |
| 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 |
| Government opposition | Government opposition |
| Pablo Casado, spokesman for Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's PP party, argued that the separatists had "failed" by not securing a majority of votes. | Pablo Casado, spokesman for Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's PP party, argued that the separatists had "failed" by not securing a majority of votes. |
| "This election should serve to end the independence debate once and for all," he told the AFP news agency. | "This election should serve to end the independence debate once and for all," he told the AFP news agency. |
| Spain's government has consistently dismissed any secession plans as "nonsense". | Spain's government has consistently dismissed any secession plans as "nonsense". |
| The pro-independence parties said ahead of the vote that they considered it a de facto referendum on independence from Spain. | The pro-independence parties said ahead of the vote that they considered it 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. | 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. | Opinion polls suggest a majority of Catalans favour a referendum on independence but are evenly divided over whether they want to secede. |
| Are you in Catalonia? What is your reaction to the election results? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your views. | |
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