This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42228131
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Catalonia snap election: What you need to know | Catalonia snap election: What you need to know |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Spain's struggle with Catalan separatism, which made world headlines in October, is taking a new turn with a knife-edge vote. | Spain's struggle with Catalan separatism, which made world headlines in October, is taking a new turn with a knife-edge vote. |
| People in the semi-autonomous region are going to the polls on Thursday. They will decide whether to support politicians who want to build a new, independent country, or unionists who want to stay in Spain. | |
| The snap election was called by the Madrid government as part of measures to control the north-eastern region after leaders there declared independence. | |
| The results of the vote could determine Catalonia's direction for years to come. | |
| Why is there an election in Catalonia? | Why is there an election in Catalonia? |
| Years of separatist pressure boiled over on 1 October when, defying Spanish courts and riot police, the Catalan authorities held an illegal referendum. | Years of separatist pressure boiled over on 1 October when, defying Spanish courts and riot police, the Catalan authorities held an illegal referendum. |
| According to the organisers, 90% of voters were in favour of independence. Yet fewer than half the region's electorate took part, so nobody can say for sure how much real support there was for a split. | According to the organisers, 90% of voters were in favour of independence. Yet fewer than half the region's electorate took part, so nobody can say for sure how much real support there was for a split. |
| Catalonia's president at the time, Carles Puigdemont, decided it was enough to declare independence from Spain. | Catalonia's president at the time, Carles Puigdemont, decided it was enough to declare independence from Spain. |
| Spain's government under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hit back - sacking the regional government, dissolving the regional parliament and calling the early election. | Spain's government under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hit back - sacking the regional government, dissolving the regional parliament and calling the early election. |
| It is gambling on voter disenchantment with separatism, and hoping for a result that anchors the wealthy region firmly back with Spain. But it must also contend with anger over Madrid's crackdown during the crisis. | It is gambling on voter disenchantment with separatism, and hoping for a result that anchors the wealthy region firmly back with Spain. But it must also contend with anger over Madrid's crackdown during the crisis. |
| "Independence is over, the so-called procés [independence movement] is finished," says Manuel Arias Maldonado, political science professor at Málaga University. | "Independence is over, the so-called procés [independence movement] is finished," says Manuel Arias Maldonado, political science professor at Málaga University. |
| However for Oriol Bartomeus, political science professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, this is "Referendum 4.0" - following on from a mock referendum in 2014, the 2015 regional election, and October's banned vote. | However for Oriol Bartomeus, political science professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, this is "Referendum 4.0" - following on from a mock referendum in 2014, the 2015 regional election, and October's banned vote. |
| Why are separatists taking part? | Why are separatists taking part? |
| When the Spanish government rolled back the region's extensive autonomous powers, it was accused by Catalans of crushing democracy. | When the Spanish government rolled back the region's extensive autonomous powers, it was accused by Catalans of crushing democracy. |
| Former ministers and the parliamentary speaker were jailed while they were investigated on suspicion of rebellion, while Mr Puigdemont fled into self-imposed exile in Belgium. | Former ministers and the parliamentary speaker were jailed while they were investigated on suspicion of rebellion, while Mr Puigdemont fled into self-imposed exile in Belgium. |
| So it may come as a surprise that the separatists are either willing or able to take part. | So it may come as a surprise that the separatists are either willing or able to take part. |
| Yet after initial dismay, they took up Madrid's challenge at the ballot box, under slogans like "Puigdemont our president" and "Democracy always wins". | Yet after initial dismay, they took up Madrid's challenge at the ballot box, under slogans like "Puigdemont our president" and "Democracy always wins". |
| For pro-independence voter Josep Jaume Rey: "It's a second round of the referendum we weren't allowed to legally hold." | For pro-independence voter Josep Jaume Rey: "It's a second round of the referendum we weren't allowed to legally hold." |
| Who will win the election? | Who will win the election? |
| The main question is whether the pro-independence parties will manage to secure a majority in the Catalan parliament. If they do, the drive for independence is unlikely to die down. | The main question is whether the pro-independence parties will manage to secure a majority in the Catalan parliament. If they do, the drive for independence is unlikely to die down. |
| At the 2015 election, most of the separatist parties joined forces and stood under the name Together for Yes - urging "Yes" to the holding of a referendum and "Yes" to independence. | At the 2015 election, most of the separatist parties joined forces and stood under the name Together for Yes - urging "Yes" to the holding of a referendum and "Yes" to independence. |
| The alliance consisted of Mr Puigdemont's centre-right Democratic Convergence of Catalonia, the social democratic Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), and two smaller parties. | The alliance consisted of Mr Puigdemont's centre-right Democratic Convergence of Catalonia, the social democratic Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), and two smaller parties. |
| With the help of a fifth party, the radical anti-EU Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), they managed to get enough support in parliament to call the ill-fated October referendum. | With the help of a fifth party, the radical anti-EU Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), they managed to get enough support in parliament to call the ill-fated October referendum. |
| In this election, by contrast, the separatist camp is split: | In this election, by contrast, the separatist camp is split: |
| Opinion polls suggest the three would fall just short of an overall majority in the 135-seat Catalan parliament. | Opinion polls suggest the three would fall just short of an overall majority in the 135-seat Catalan parliament. |
| Why are the separatists divided? | Why are the separatists divided? |
| Mr Puigdemont's decision to go into exile was justified by his supporters as the only way to keep alive their new independent republic - but it caused some ill-feeling back in Catalonia. | Mr Puigdemont's decision to go into exile was justified by his supporters as the only way to keep alive their new independent republic - but it caused some ill-feeling back in Catalonia. |
| Prof Arias Maldonado sees a clear feud between the two big parties: "Apparently, Puigdemont has become a liability since he has announced that he will come to govern should his bloc win - something the ERC does not like to hear." | Prof Arias Maldonado sees a clear feud between the two big parties: "Apparently, Puigdemont has become a liability since he has announced that he will come to govern should his bloc win - something the ERC does not like to hear." |
| Marc Sanjaume, professor of political sciences at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, says the split between the parties allows pro-independence voters who are angry with Mr Puigdemont to punish him while still supporting other secessionists. | Marc Sanjaume, professor of political sciences at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, says the split between the parties allows pro-independence voters who are angry with Mr Puigdemont to punish him while still supporting other secessionists. |
| What about the unionist parties? | What about the unionist parties? |
| The woman placed in temporary control of Catalonia by Prime Minister Rajoy when he sacked its leaders, says Spain's ruling, centre-right Popular Party (PP) has "decapitated" the pro-independence parties. | The woman placed in temporary control of Catalonia by Prime Minister Rajoy when he sacked its leaders, says Spain's ruling, centre-right Popular Party (PP) has "decapitated" the pro-independence parties. |
| Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría claims only the PP can "continue liquidating the independence movement". | Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría claims only the PP can "continue liquidating the independence movement". |
| Her remarks drew a fresh outcry that the Spanish government was only prosecuting separatist leaders for political gain. | Her remarks drew a fresh outcry that the Spanish government was only prosecuting separatist leaders for political gain. |
| Despite its zeal, or maybe because of it, the PP has not benefited in opinion polls from any pro-unionist backlash in Catalonia - quite the reverse. | Despite its zeal, or maybe because of it, the PP has not benefited in opinion polls from any pro-unionist backlash in Catalonia - quite the reverse. |
| Instead, both the liberal Ciudadanos (Cs) - which ate into the PP share of the vote at the Spanish general elections of 2015 and 2016 - and the Socialists (PSC) have seen their support rise significantly. | Instead, both the liberal Ciudadanos (Cs) - which ate into the PP share of the vote at the Spanish general elections of 2015 and 2016 - and the Socialists (PSC) have seen their support rise significantly. |
| Taken together, the three unionist parties look set to fall well short of an overall majority - although Cs, under its energetic young leader Inés Arrimadas, could well end up the biggest party in parliament. | Taken together, the three unionist parties look set to fall well short of an overall majority - although Cs, under its energetic young leader Inés Arrimadas, could well end up the biggest party in parliament. |
| "If that happens, it would in itself be a political revolution in Catalonia and, by extension, in the rest of Spain," says Prof Arias Maldonado. | "If that happens, it would in itself be a political revolution in Catalonia and, by extension, in the rest of Spain," says Prof Arias Maldonado. |
| Is there any middle ground? | Is there any middle ground? |
| In Common We Can is an alliance of anti-capitalist and ecological parties endorsed by Barcelona's charismatic Mayor Ada Colau and led by Xavier Domenech. | In Common We Can is an alliance of anti-capitalist and ecological parties endorsed by Barcelona's charismatic Mayor Ada Colau and led by Xavier Domenech. |
| It steers a middle course, calling for greater autonomy for Catalonia inside Spain and reforms that would enable a legal referendum on independence. | It steers a middle course, calling for greater autonomy for Catalonia inside Spain and reforms that would enable a legal referendum on independence. |
| It looks on course to win fewer seats than its anti-capitalist predecessor in 2015 but may still emerge as king-maker in coalition talks. | It looks on course to win fewer seats than its anti-capitalist predecessor in 2015 but may still emerge as king-maker in coalition talks. |
| Is this a free and fair vote? | Is this a free and fair vote? |
| Catan voter Juli Morató says separatists fear "the manipulation of results". | Catan voter Juli Morató says separatists fear "the manipulation of results". |
| Some errors appear to have been made in voter registration - but nothing, it seems, on a scale to justify suspicions of electoral fraud. | Some errors appear to have been made in voter registration - but nothing, it seems, on a scale to justify suspicions of electoral fraud. |
| Calls for international observers to be admitted were rejected by the Spanish Central Electoral Commission as "inappropriate". | Calls for international observers to be admitted were rejected by the Spanish Central Electoral Commission as "inappropriate". |
| The campaign has not been free of censorship, however. | The campaign has not been free of censorship, however. |
| The authorities drew ridicule by banning the display in Barcelona of yellow ribbons, which are used to show solidarity with imprisoned Catalans. | The authorities drew ridicule by banning the display in Barcelona of yellow ribbons, which are used to show solidarity with imprisoned Catalans. |
| Meanwhile, separatist politicians such as Mr Junqueras have been forced to run for election from prison. It is unclear whether Spain's courts will drop the charges against them - or against Mr Puigdemont - if they win. | Meanwhile, separatist politicians such as Mr Junqueras have been forced to run for election from prison. It is unclear whether Spain's courts will drop the charges against them - or against Mr Puigdemont - if they win. |
| "It has been a very strange campaign, more polarised than ever," says Prof Bartomeus. "The media have taken sides, even the public broadcasters. So fairness is low." | "It has been a very strange campaign, more polarised than ever," says Prof Bartomeus. "The media have taken sides, even the public broadcasters. So fairness is low." |