21 December Catalan elections: a quick guide
Today, 21 December, Catalans vote for a new government in the Catalan elections.
This follows the Catalan declaration of independence on 27 October which was quickly quashed by Spain’s prime minister Mariano Rajoy. He sacked the Catalan government, using a section of the Spanish constitution called Article 155, and called fresh elections.
Several of Catalunya’s former leaders were accused of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds by the Spanish judiciary. The deposed president Carles Puigdemont fled to Belgium to avoid being arrested where he has remained throughout the election campaign. Two of his former government colleagues are in still prison along with two high profile independence campaigners.
The Catalan parliament has 135 seats. The latest opinion polls predict no clear outcome for either pro- or anti-independence parities, which means that progress may be stalled after the election while negotiations between possible coalition partners take place.
The results of the vote are expected late on Thursday night, but the official declaration of the government is not until 5 January. Article 155 will stay in place until there is a new Catalan government. However, if a new government pursues its independence drive, it is possible that Rajoy will remove its power again.
The Catalan political parties standing for election today
Junts per Catalunya (JuntsxCat) Together for Catalaunya
Pro-independence. Headed by ex-president Carles Puigdemont.
Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) / Catalan Republican Left
Pro-independence. Led by former deputy president Oriol Junqueras who is currently in prison. This party was formerly in coalition with Puigdemont in a group called Junts pel Si.
Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya (PSC) / Catalan Socialist Party
Anti-independence. Led by Miquel Iceta.
Partit Popular de Catalunya (PP) / People’s Party of Catalunya
Anti-independence. This is the regional branch of Spain’s right-wing ruling PP, headed by Xavier Garcia Albiol.
Ciutadans (C’s) / Citizens’ party
Anti-independence. The Catalan version of Ciudadanos, a centre-right party that has emerged in Spain in recent years. Leader is Ines Arrimadas.
Catalunya en Comu / Catalunya in Common
Unclear commitment to independence. An anti-austerity party whose leader is Xavier Domenech. Barcelona mayor Ada Colau is a high profile figure within the party.
Candidatura d’Unitat Popular (CUP) / Popular Unity Candidacy
Fiercly pro-independence. Anti-capitalist group easily identified by their informal dress. In the last parliament, the party’s 10 seats gave the Junts pel Si coalition a majority to pursue its road to independence.
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