Catalan Pro-Independence Parties Win Regional Vote
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Election gains by Catalan separatists spurred their independence drive in a setback for regional President Artur Mas that may deepen his stand-off with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Mas, who called early elections to force the debate on independence, lost a dozen seats in the 135-member regional assembly, getting 50 for his Convergencia i Unio party in yesterday’s vote. The separatist Catalan Republican Left, known as ERC, more than doubled its seats to 21 from 10. Almost two-thirds of the seats went to parties that back a referendum.