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| Spain regions: Catalonia nationalists 'head for win' | Spain regions: Catalonia nationalists 'head for win' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nationalists in the Spanish region of Catalonia are set to win in regional elections, exit polls suggest. | Nationalists in the Spanish region of Catalonia are set to win in regional elections, exit polls suggest. |
| TV3 said the ruling CiU party could secure up to 57 seats - far short of an absolute majority. In second place was left-wing ERC - with up to 23 seats. | TV3 said the ruling CiU party could secure up to 57 seats - far short of an absolute majority. In second place was left-wing ERC - with up to 23 seats. |
| Both are nationalists keen to hold a referendum on whether the region should break away from the rest of Spain. | Both are nationalists keen to hold a referendum on whether the region should break away from the rest of Spain. |
| Madrid says Catalan nationalists are looking for excuses after nearly running out of money. | Madrid says Catalan nationalists are looking for excuses after nearly running out of money. |
| Catalan President Artur Mas called early elections amid a funding row with the central government; it says he is trying to exploit the economic crisis. | Catalan President Artur Mas called early elections amid a funding row with the central government; it says he is trying to exploit the economic crisis. |
| 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) was likely to have 54-57 seats, the TV3 projection said - down from 62 at present. | 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) was likely to have 54-57 seats, the TV3 projection said - down from 62 at present. |
| It put the nationalist Republican Left (ERC) at 20-23 seats, double its current share. | It put the nationalist Republican Left (ERC) at 20-23 seats, double its current share. |
| The CiU argues a Catalan state would fare better as a member of the EU than a province of Spain. | The CiU argues a Catalan state would fare better as a member of the EU than a province of Spain. |
| The European flag has been 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 has been prominent at Mr Mas's campaign rallies, and he says an independent Catalonia would quickly gain membership of the 27-member bloc. |
| The CiU ousted the Socialist party in elections in November 2010. | The CiU ousted the Socialist party in elections in November 2010. |
| After the projections, Mr Mas said he would begin consultations and wants to put the question of an independence bid on the table of negotiations. | |
| With 135 parliamentary seats available, Mr Mas knows that if he is to pursue his dream of an independent Catalonia, he will need a clear mandate from voters, says the BBC's Tom Burridge, in Barcelona. | With 135 parliamentary seats available, Mr Mas knows that if he is to pursue his dream of an independent Catalonia, he will need a clear mandate from voters, says the BBC's Tom Burridge, in Barcelona. |
| If not, Mr Mas will have to rely on the support of smaller pro-independence parties, our correspondent says. | If not, Mr Mas will have to rely on the support of smaller pro-independence parties, our correspondent says. |
| Even then, the road to independence is far from straightforward. | Even then, the road to independence is far from straightforward. |
| 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 nationalist Ciutadans, the Popular Party of Catalonia the Socialist Party of Catalonia are all opposed to Catalonia's independence bid. | Other parties, such as the nationalist Ciutadans, the Popular Party of Catalonia the Socialist Party of Catalonia are all opposed to Catalonia's independence bid. |
| Are you in Catalonia? Will you be voting? What do you think about the issue of independence? Please send us your views, using the form below. | Are you in Catalonia? Will you be voting? What do you think about the issue of independence? Please send us your views, using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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