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Catalonia secessionist parties set for majority after 90% of votes counted – live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Despite the Citizens party winning the election in terms of seats and vote share, unionist forces managed a total of just 57 seats in the Catalan parliament, compared to 70 for the combined pro-independence parties. | |
In a major setback to Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, the shortfall reflected the dire performance of his centre-right People’s party, which collapsed from 11 seats in 2015 to just four. | |
The socialist PSC party was more successful, gaining one seat and ending on 16. | |
My colleague Sam Jones has filed the first take of his story on the election results with more than 90% of votes now counted: | |
Catalan pro-independence parties look set to hold on to their absolute majority in Thursday’s snap regional elections, dealing a severe blow to the Spanish government, which called the polls in the hope of heading off the secessionist threat. | |
With 90% of the votes counted, the three separatist parties are on course to win 70 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament even though the centre-right Citizens party appears to be the single party with the most seats. | |
Together for Catalonia, the party led by deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, is expected to take 34 seats, the Catalan Republican Left 32 and the far-left, anti-capitalist Popular Unity Candidacy four. Between them, they will have enough seats to reassemble the parliamentary majority that put them into office after the 2015 elections. | |
The Citizens party, which has taken a fiercely anti-independence stance, is on track to win 36 seats, the Catalan socialist party 17, Catalunya en Comú-Podem (the Catalan version of the anti-austerity Podemos party) eight and the conservative People’s party four. | |
Thursday’s snap election was called in October by the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, after he used article 155 of the constitution to take control of Catalonia and sack its government over its unilateral independence referendum and subsequent declaration of independence. | |
The vote, which has pitted secessionists against unionists, attracted a record turnout of 80%, dispelling fears that holding the election on a weekday rather than the usual Sunday would hit turnout appeared to have been unfounded. | |
You can read Sam’s full story here. | |
An aide to Carles Puigdemont, the deposed regional president currently dodging arrest in Brussels, sent a Whatsapp message to journalists shortly after 10.30pm Spanish time. | |
It read simply: | |
As you see, we are the comeback kids. | |
With just over 90% of votes counted in Catalonia’s snap general election, the three pro-independence parties appear to have won a narrow two-seat majority. | |
If they succeed in negotiating a coalition agreement – by no means guaranteed – JuntsxCat, ERC and CUP would have a combined total of 7o seats in the 135-seat parliament. | |
The provisional breakdown is as follows: | |
1. Citizens - 36 seats | |
2. JuntsxCat - 34 seats | |
3. ERC - 32 seats | |
4. PSC - 17 seats | |
5. Catalunya in Comú-Podem - 8 seats | |
6. CUP - 4 seats | |
7. PP - 4 seats | |
A record turnout of more than 80%, five percentage points up on the previous 2015 poll, appears not to have produced the result many predicted – namely a swing towards Catalonia’s unionist parties who want the regions to stay part of Spain: | A record turnout of more than 80%, five percentage points up on the previous 2015 poll, appears not to have produced the result many predicted – namely a swing towards Catalonia’s unionist parties who want the regions to stay part of Spain: |
La participación en las presentes elecciones ha superado el 80%, mientras que en 2015 fue del 75% https://t.co/C8QUatCTJQ | La participación en las presentes elecciones ha superado el 80%, mientras que en 2015 fue del 75% https://t.co/C8QUatCTJQ |
The Guardian’s Stephen Burgen points to one remarkable possibility if the current partial result – with around 75% of votes counted – is confirmed: | The Guardian’s Stephen Burgen points to one remarkable possibility if the current partial result – with around 75% of votes counted – is confirmed: |
There is a real possibility that the deposed president Carles Puigdemont could be invested as the new president, but the moment he sets foot on Spanish soil he will be arrested on the charges that led him to flee to Brussels - rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds. | There is a real possibility that the deposed president Carles Puigdemont could be invested as the new president, but the moment he sets foot on Spanish soil he will be arrested on the charges that led him to flee to Brussels - rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds. |
However, pundits claim that there are precedents for him to remain in Belgium and be the president but without executive powers. This has been a bizarre election and it appears there’s more weirdness to come. | However, pundits claim that there are precedents for him to remain in Belgium and be the president but without executive powers. This has been a bizarre election and it appears there’s more weirdness to come. |
With nearly 75% of votes counted, the unionist Citizens party is still on course to win the election, but Catalonia’s three main pro-independence parties seem headed for a narrow parliamentary majority of two or three seats - but less tan 50% of the total vote: | With nearly 75% of votes counted, the unionist Citizens party is still on course to win the election, but Catalonia’s three main pro-independence parties seem headed for a narrow parliamentary majority of two or three seats - but less tan 50% of the total vote: |
73.7% votes counted: unionist Ciutadans is still leading (35 out of 135 seats), but parties for a #Catalan state would keep the majority in the chamber with 70 seats (with 47.4% of votes). Majority is at 68 #21D ➡️https://t.co/xh8hFJW9Mk. pic.twitter.com/7qk53T9cL3 | 73.7% votes counted: unionist Ciutadans is still leading (35 out of 135 seats), but parties for a #Catalan state would keep the majority in the chamber with 70 seats (with 47.4% of votes). Majority is at 68 #21D ➡️https://t.co/xh8hFJW9Mk. pic.twitter.com/7qk53T9cL3 |
With events now appearing to spin away from Mariano Rajoy, here’s a prophetic Sam Jones profile of the prime minister, Spain’s “safe pair of hands” who decided to risk it all on Catalonia: | With events now appearing to spin away from Mariano Rajoy, here’s a prophetic Sam Jones profile of the prime minister, Spain’s “safe pair of hands” who decided to risk it all on Catalonia: |
Spain’s national unity has not faced a threat of this magnitude since it returned to democracy following Franco’s death and what happens over the next few months will determine not only Rajoy’s political future but also his legacy. | Spain’s national unity has not faced a threat of this magnitude since it returned to democracy following Franco’s death and what happens over the next few months will determine not only Rajoy’s political future but also his legacy. |
He has become the first Spanish prime minister to reach for the so-called nuclear option of the country’s 1978 constitution, which permits the central government to take control of an autonomous region if it “does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain”. | He has become the first Spanish prime minister to reach for the so-called nuclear option of the country’s 1978 constitution, which permits the central government to take control of an autonomous region if it “does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain”. |
Rajoy, a 62-year-old political veteran, has been Spain’s prime minister for six long and difficult years. In that time, Spain has slowly retreated from the brink of economic catastrophe, witnessed the death of four decades of two-party hegemony, squirmed over a whack-a-mole succession of corruption scandals and spent 10 months deadlocked and government-less. | Rajoy, a 62-year-old political veteran, has been Spain’s prime minister for six long and difficult years. In that time, Spain has slowly retreated from the brink of economic catastrophe, witnessed the death of four decades of two-party hegemony, squirmed over a whack-a-mole succession of corruption scandals and spent 10 months deadlocked and government-less. |
The question now is just how effective Rajoy’s Catalan gamble will be and whether its success or failure will eclipse his economic achievements. | The question now is just how effective Rajoy’s Catalan gamble will be and whether its success or failure will eclipse his economic achievements. |
Worth noting, though, that as things stand the three pro-independence parties JuntsxCat, ERC and CUP may be heading for a clear – if slim – majority in parliament, but they do not have 50% of the popular vote. | Worth noting, though, that as things stand the three pro-independence parties JuntsxCat, ERC and CUP may be heading for a clear – if slim – majority in parliament, but they do not have 50% of the popular vote. |
This will not be the absolute mandate they were hoping for. | This will not be the absolute mandate they were hoping for. |
This graphic of where things are with 50% of votes counted courtesy of the Guardian’s Seàn Clarke: | This graphic of where things are with 50% of votes counted courtesy of the Guardian’s Seàn Clarke: |
The consensus among observers, commentators and journalists appears to be building, and it’s not looking pretty for Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy in Madrid. Has his decision to call this snap Catalan election backfired? | The consensus among observers, commentators and journalists appears to be building, and it’s not looking pretty for Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy in Madrid. Has his decision to call this snap Catalan election backfired? |
With over 50 pct of Catalan vote counted, pro-independence parties have absolute majority.This makes uncomfortable viewing for PM Rajoy. | With over 50 pct of Catalan vote counted, pro-independence parties have absolute majority.This makes uncomfortable viewing for PM Rajoy. |