Catalonia’s separatists likely victors in parliamentary elections

MADRID A coalition of separatists who promised independence for the Spanish region of Catalonia emerged as the likely victors in parliamentary elections Sunday, preliminary results showed.

Voters in Spain’s wealthy northeastern region cast their ballots in what was billed by Catalan leader Artur Mas as a referendum on whether the region should secede from Spain.

Of the 135 seats contested Catalonia’s parliament, the separatist alliance led by Mas captured 63 to 66 seats, according to a forecast by local broadcaster TV3.

Mas had formed the separatist alliance ahead of the elections, saying that his coalition’s victory would mean independence for Catalonia’s 7.6 million people within 18 months.

Mas’ liberal ruling party, the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia, joined longtime rivals in the Republican Left of Catalonia and other citizen groups to form the Together for Yes coaltion.

To achieve the 68 seats required for an absolute majority, Mas’ coalition could allign itself with the left-wing separatists of the Popular Unity Candidacy party.

About 63 percent of the region’s 5.5 million eligible voters turned out for the election, beating the turnout for the last regional election in 2012 by nearly 7 percentage points.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said his government would under no circumstances allow Catalonia’s secession.

“No one will destroy the unity of Spain,” he said.

European Union politicians have suggested that an independent Catalonia would have to be automatically cut out from the European Union and the eurozone currency bloc.

Mas wanted to hold a referendum for independence last November, but the Spanish Constitutional Court declared such a vote illegal after the national government filed a complaint.

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