The Socialists, led by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, secured victory in Catalonia’s regional election as pro-independence factions experienced a decline in support.
Under the leadership of former Spanish health minister Salvador Illa, the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) saw significant advancements, emerging as the dominant force with 42 secured seats out of 99% of the counted votes.
According to the Catalan government’s statistics institute, there has been a notable decrease in support for independence, dropping from 49% in 2017 to 42% in this election cycle.
The electoral discourse predominantly revolved around pressing issues like the region’s drought and housing crisis, relegating discussions on Catalonia’s relationship with Spain to the sidelines.
The hardline faction, Together for Catalonia (JxCat), led by former regional president Carles Puigdemont, managed to secure 35 seats, reclaiming its status as the primary pro-independence entity, surpassing the Catalan Republican Left (ERC).
However, overall, nationalist groups experienced a decline in support, leading to a loss of control over the regional parliament, and dealing a blow to the separatist movement.
Despite this setback, pro-independence parties continue to push for concessions from the central government and persist in their demand for a referendum on independence.
The snap election was called by the minority ERC government of Pere Aragonès after failing to garner adequate support for passing the region’s annual budget.
Prime Minister Sánchez perceives this outcome as validation of his Catalonia policies, notably the controversial amnesty law aimed at benefiting nationalists facing legal repercussions for separatist activities.
The law, currently nearing its passage through the Spanish parliament, has faced staunch opposition from right-wing adversaries.
Salvador Illa hailed the election result as “a new era for Catalonia,” attributing the success to the policies of the Spanish government and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The amnesty law, a condition for the parliamentary support extended by JxCat and ERC during Sánchez’s investiture, facilitated the formation of a new central government in November last year.
Carles Puigdemont, who fled Spain in 2017 following a failed secession attempt, is expected to benefit from the amnesty and potentially return. Despite campaigning from southern France ahead of the election, his influence remains significant.
However, forming a government won’t be a straightforward task for Illa, who will likely need the support of ERC and the far-left Comuns Sumar alliance.
Puigdemont has urged ERC not to align with the unionist PSC, proposing instead a coalition between the two main pro-independence parties.
The fragmented nature of the Catalan parliament, characterized by divisions between unionist-separatist factions and left-right ideologies, suggests that post-election negotiations could be protracted.
Failure to establish a new administration could lead to another round of elections.
The conservative People’s Party (PP) witnessed significant gains, securing the fourth position, followed by the far-right Vox party.
Conversely, the self-proclaimed centrists of Ciudadanos lost their parliamentary representation, marking a sharp decline since becoming the region’s primary political force seven years ago.
In a notable development, the newly emerged far-right party, Catalan Alliance, secured two seats, capitalizing on its uncompromising stance on separatism and anti-immigrant policies.
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