27-S elections

Pro-independence parties have won an overall majority in the Catalan election. The main pro-independence coalition, ‘Junts pel Sí’ (‘Together for Yes’) obtained 39.6% of vote and won 62, while the far-left pro-independence CUP secured 10 members of parliament. Together, they have an overall majority of 72 MPs in the 135-seats Catalan Parliament. President Mas, who ran fourth on the list, highlighted the plebiscitary nature of the elections and demanded “respect” for “the victory of Catalonia, the victory of yes”. Turnout in the election has hit a record high, with 77.4%.

ACN

September 29, 2015 05:04 PM

The results of these historic elections, with a record participation of 77%, showed a 49% support to Catalonia’s independence, a 39% against an 11% of voters who don’t support independence but openly express the need to change the relationship with Spain and allow Catalans to decide their political future.

The results of these historic elections, with a record participation of 77%, showed a 49% support to Catalonia’s independence, a 39% against an 11% of voters who don’t support independence but openly express the need to change the relationship with Spain and allow Catalans to decide their political future.

‘Junts Pel Sí’ (‘Together For Yes’) obtained 1,611,083 votes, which means 62MPs and 39.6% of vote. The second most voted party in the Catalan Parliament was anti-independence Ciutadans, which got 727,200 votes, 17.89 % of votes and secured 25 seats. Ciutadans experienced the highest growth in the Catalan chamber. The Catalan Socialist Party (PSC), achieved 16 MPs and 515,899 votes, which is 12.6% of votes . Left-wing coalition ‘Catalunya Sí que es Pot’, which includes Podemos, was fourth with 11 seats and 361,806 votes, which represented 8.9% of the total. The ruling party in the Spanish government, the Conservative PP, achieved only 11 seats and 344,916 votes, 8.4% of votes. The Christian Democrats from Unió didn’t achieve any representation, although they obtained 333,849 votes, 8.2% of the total.

One of the main characteristics of the 27-S elections is the plebiscitary nature that many parties, institutions and organisations have claimed these elections have. The political scene has been renewed this year with unitary lists made up of Catalonia’s traditional parties taking part for the first time and the elections are considered by many as a ‘de facto’ plebiscite on independence. Several parties with distinct political agendas have set aside their ideological differences and gathered together in order to emphasise their position regarding Catalonia’s independence.