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Catalonia election: Separatists win majority | Catalonia election: Separatists win majority |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Voters in Spain's Catalonia region have given a majority to parties seeking Catalan independence. | Voters in Spain's Catalonia region have given a majority to parties seeking Catalan independence. |
However, Catalan President Artur Mas, who called the early election and pushed for independence, lost seats. | However, Catalan President Artur Mas, who called the early election and pushed for independence, lost seats. |
His centre-right CiU remains the largest bloc, winning 50 seats out of 135, down from 62 last time. | His centre-right CiU remains the largest bloc, winning 50 seats out of 135, down from 62 last time. |
The left-wing separatist ERC won 21 seats. But a BBC correspondent says despite their combined majority, the parties may be unable to work together. | The left-wing separatist ERC won 21 seats. But a BBC correspondent says despite their combined majority, the parties may be unable to work together. |
Both the CiU and ERC want to hold a referendum on independence from Spain. | Both the CiU and ERC want to hold a referendum on independence from Spain. |
A source close to a "disappointed" Catalan President Artur Mas told me a referendum, or at least a public consultation on independence, is "still the plan". | A source close to a "disappointed" Catalan President Artur Mas told me a referendum, or at least a public consultation on independence, is "still the plan". |
Crucially, my source believes a deal with Esquerra Republicana, the centre-left pro-independence party which increased its share of the vote last night, "has to be possible" as there is "no other alternative". | Crucially, my source believes a deal with Esquerra Republicana, the centre-left pro-independence party which increased its share of the vote last night, "has to be possible" as there is "no other alternative". |
However a pact between CiU - Mr Mas's centre-right nationalist coalition - and Esquerra Republicana will not be easy. The two are poles apart on the crucial issue of the economy and how to tackle the economic crisis in Catalonia. | However a pact between CiU - Mr Mas's centre-right nationalist coalition - and Esquerra Republicana will not be easy. The two are poles apart on the crucial issue of the economy and how to tackle the economic crisis in Catalonia. |
CiU has implemented austerity measures, including controversial cuts to the public sector. It is possible it will want to implement more economic reforms, which Esquerra Republicana is likely to oppose. | CiU has implemented austerity measures, including controversial cuts to the public sector. It is possible it will want to implement more economic reforms, which Esquerra Republicana is likely to oppose. |
My sense therefore is that, following last night's election result, a referendum on independence from Spain is less likely, because of the fact that the political process going forward has become even more complicated than it was before. | My sense therefore is that, following last night's election result, a referendum on independence from Spain is less likely, because of the fact that the political process going forward has become even more complicated than it was before. |
Mr Mas told the BBC he would consult the people on independence within the next four years. | Mr Mas told the BBC he would consult the people on independence within the next four years. |
"I am happy with tonight's results," he said, "but not as happy as I could have been." | "I am happy with tonight's results," he said, "but not as happy as I could have been." |
Mr Mas called early elections after a funding row with the central government in Madrid. | Mr Mas called early elections after a funding row with the central government in Madrid. |
It has accused him of trying to exploit the economic crisis, saying Catalan nationalists were looking for excuses after nearly running out of money. | It has accused him of trying to exploit the economic crisis, saying Catalan nationalists were looking for excuses after nearly running out of money. |
European membership? | European membership? |
Mr Mas says the wealthy and influential north-eastern region gets a raw funding deal from the central government. His centre-right Catalan nationalist coalition (CiU) argues a Catalan state would fare better as a member of the EU than a province of Spain. | Mr Mas says the wealthy and influential north-eastern region gets a raw funding deal from the central government. His centre-right Catalan nationalist coalition (CiU) argues a Catalan state would fare better as a member of the EU than a province of Spain. |
The European flag was prominent at Mr Mas's campaign rallies, and he says an independent Catalonia would quickly gain membership of the 27-member bloc. | The European flag was prominent at Mr Mas's campaign rallies, and he says an independent Catalonia would quickly gain membership of the 27-member bloc. |
However, the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), the Republican Left party, has more than doubled its previous share of seats - up from 10 in 2010 to 21 this time. | However, the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), the Republican Left party, has more than doubled its previous share of seats - up from 10 in 2010 to 21 this time. |
That has been seen partly as a reaction to Mr Mas's resort to austerity measures to fight Catalonia's debt. | That has been seen partly as a reaction to Mr Mas's resort to austerity measures to fight Catalonia's debt. |
CiU and the ERC have very different views of how to address the economic crisis, says the BBC's Tom Burridge, in the Catalan regional capital Barcelona. | CiU and the ERC have very different views of how to address the economic crisis, says the BBC's Tom Burridge, in the Catalan regional capital Barcelona. |
The result may actually mean a referendum on independence from Spain is therefore less likely, because the political process has become even more complicated, our correspondent says. | The result may actually mean a referendum on independence from Spain is therefore less likely, because the political process has become even more complicated, our correspondent says. |
It was already far from straightforward, he says. | It was already far from straightforward, he says. |
A referendum would be illegal under the current Spanish constitution, and Spain's ruling Popular Party is likely to block any attempts for constitutional change. | A referendum would be illegal under the current Spanish constitution, and Spain's ruling Popular Party is likely to block any attempts for constitutional change. |
Other parties, such as the Ciutadans, the Popular Party of Catalonia and the Socialist Party of Catalonia are all opposed to Catalonia's independence bid. | Other parties, such as the Ciutadans, the Popular Party of Catalonia and the Socialist Party of Catalonia are all opposed to Catalonia's independence bid. |