Catalonia secessionist parties declare victory in regional elections live

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Guardian

Catalonia’s three pro-independence parties, JuntxCat, ERC and CUP, have declared victory after winning an absolute majority of 70 seats in the 135-seat parliament, dealing a severe blow to the Spanish government.

A record 80%-plus of Catalan voters cast their ballots in the snap election triggered by prime minister Mariano Rajoy when Madrid took control of the region in October after its illegal referendum and unilateral declaration of independence.

The unionist Citizens finished as the largest single party in parliament, but its 36 seats were not enough to form a majority government with other parties in favour of Catalonia remaining a part of Spain.

Rajoy’s centre-right People’s party lost nearly three-quarters of its seats, collapsing from 11 to just four.


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/dec/21/catalonia-voters-results-regional-election-spain-live

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This is another example of a government thinking it has the support to strengthen its position, calling a popular vote, and stepping on a rake instead.

With 99% of votes counted:

% vote Seats
ERC Republican Left 21.4 32
JxC Together for Catalonia 21.7 34
CUP Popular Unity Candidacy 4.5 4
Comú Catalonia in Common 10 8
PP People's party 10 3
PSC Socialists 13.9 17
Cs Citizens 25.4 37

https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2017/dec/21/catalonia-election-full-results

135 total; 68 needed for a majority. 32+34+4=70.

[msongs]

1. who really benefits from catalonia being booted out of the EU. follow the $$ nt

[Perseus]

2. Catalonains life is going to become harder

they don't know what they are getting into...another example that people vote against their interests.

[Ken Burch]

3. There's good reason for them to seek independence.

The right-wing Spanish governing party had revoked most of Catalunya's autonomy. And no party that replaces that right wing government(assuming that party is ever voted out of office again, which is somewhere between doubtful and impossoble) will ever return the autonomy provisions that were removed.

Why should they stay in a political entity in which all hopes for positive change are gone?

[Ken Burch]

4. That's naive. Catalunya's drive for self-determination is not a corporate plot.

They want out of Spain because they have no hope within Spain. Nothing in Spain will ever be allowed to change.

[Ragrum]

5. Hearts over Heads - IMHO

Hearts over Heads

Nearly two generations ago, Catalonian voters ratified the new Spanish Constitution. Not really that long ago. They agreed to the terms. Now some, many want out. I was there the month of October and survived those early demonstrations where Barcelona demonstrators (both I-Love-Cat and Unity) demanded my wife and I march with them. Seems to me the exit from Spain is guaranteed to be an exit from the EU... Spain would veto that. Also, those non Spain Citizens (EU citizens) that work in Catalonia would need to leave as their EU protections would vanish…BIG Problem. Another Big Problem is the 56BILLION Euro debt owes Spain. Leave Spain and debt would be non-negotiable…due day one. What assets would Catalonia be willing to sell? The Ports..Nope…owned by Spain. AirTraffic Control..owned by Spain. Either one of those lost kills the tourist trade. How would Catalonia fund Border Control? How about Defense? So many problems in creating a new country makes it implausible…impossible without selling real estate to Russia or China.

[dlwickham]

6. there's no "strengthening" Madrid's position

succession won't happen unless things drastically change and I can't see that happening

[DoubleAgentOrange]

7. Good

Catalonia punched Rajoy's Nazi just like Alabama punched Trump's.

Soraya is just Roy Moore with a vagina.

Anyone here who supports the far-right Francoist line is probably a Trump troll and must return home to Free Republic.