Tuesday

28th Nov 2023

Pro-independence parties gain majority in Catalan parliament

Pro-independence parties won a majority of seats in the Catalan parliament in Sunday’s (27 September) election, giving them a mandate to try to break away from Madrid.

The secessionist coalition of political parties and civil society groups, Junts pel Si, together with the radical left-wing party CUP, obtained 72 seats in the 135-seat assembly, four more than the 68 needed for an absolute majority.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

  • Junts pel Si plan to declare independence within 18 months (Photo: MIQUEL BLASCO)

“We have a clear victory. We will organise the government such that we can fulfil our roadmap,” said Catalan President Artur Mas as the results became clear.

“This is a victory that we will administer with cohesion and concord - with a respect for everybody, with respect for Spain and with respect for Europe”, he added.

Junts pel Si have said they will begin by building a state structure and aim to declare independence within 18 months.

A large crowd of supporters in favor of independence gathered in the centre of the city where Junts pel Si held their election night meeting.

When the first exit polls came out they started singing the Catalan national anthem and chanting refrains of independence.

However, the pro-independence parties gathered only 47.8 percent of the direct vote - something the main opposition party, Ciutadans, was quick to point out.

Ciutadans’ leader in Catalonia, Ines Arrimadas, on Sunday night demanded Mas’ resignation and for a new election to be held “that include parties and programs, and not coalitions”. She said: “Today has shown that the majority of Catalans have turned their back on Artur Mas”.

Her party almost tripled its seats from nine to 25 in the regional parliament.

“I think it’s ironic that those who didn’t want us to hold a referendum, now demand that votes and not deputies are counted”, Mas said late on Sunday.

Pro-independence parties and groups in Catalonia have for the last few years pushed for a vote on independence, but Spain’s central government has said it is against the Spanish constitution.

The Junts pel Si then came into being as a political alliance turning the Catalan regional election into a plebiscite on independence for Catalonia.

However, the alliance and CUP have some differences in the area of social policies and on the speed of the roadmap towards independence. The political formations will meet on Monday morning to consider their next steps together, said Raul Romeva, a former green MEP, who heads the Junts pel Si list.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his government have repeatedly said they will block any attempt to break away from Spain in court, and that in case of a referendum on independence, it should be the whole of Spain that should vote on the matter.

With the Spanish general election coming up in December this year, Spanish political leaders were quick in replying to the outcome of the election.

“We have a fractured Catalonia” said Spanish opposition leader, socialist Pedro Sanchez, adding that he would immediately start working towards “healing” the region.

Pablo Iglesias from the far-left Podemos party said “Spain needs a president that can listen to the Catalans and I want to be that president”.

Sunday’s voter turnout was an all time high at 77 percent, compared to 67.8 percent in the 2012 elections.

Juncker's answer on Catalonia grew in translation

The European Commission is investigating a translation incident, which saw the Spanish version of an English response from Jean-Claude Juncker grow by a 9-line paragraph, stating that a regional parliament cannot decide on the fate of its territory.

Catalonia separatists on EU charm offensive

Catalan authorities are trying to garner support from EU states and institutions, after nationalists swept to election victory on promise to hold independence referendum.

Ombudsman raps EU institutions on Catalonia

The EU Ombudsman's office says declarations by members of the EU institutions about the consequences of potential independence reflect no more than their "personal view".

Column

How centre-right conservatives capitulate to the far-right

Many conservatives in Europe seem to have forgotten the lesson of 1930s Germany. They sacrifice their principles on the altar of the polls and all-too-often try to overtake rightwing radicals on their own pet subjects like security or migration.

Opinion

My experience trying to negotiate with Uber

After working with people in unusual employment situations for a decade, I thought I had seen it all as a union organiser. Then I began dealing with Uber.

Latest News

  1. People-smuggling profits at historic high, EU concedes
  2. EU bets big on fossil hydrogen and carbon storage
  3. How centre-right conservatives capitulate to the far-right
  4. My experience trying to negotiate with Uber
  5. Key battlegrounds in EU's new media legislation
  6. EU 'shocked' by Israel's war-time settler surge
  7. Platform workers could face 'robo-firing' under EU's AI rules
  8. Wilders faces tough road to power, despite election triumph

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  2. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  4. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  5. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  2. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  4. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  5. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  6. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us