ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Pro-secessionist parties in Spain’s Catalonia region have won a ruling bloc in the region’s parliament, and vowed to moved forward with their plans to have an independent Catalonia, a move the central government in Madrid says is illegal.
“We won,” said Democratic Convergence of Catalonia party leader Artur Mas speaking to a crowd in Barcelona, the AP reported Sunday. "There are two victories tonight, one for 'Yes' and another for democracy."
An exit poll conducted by Catalonia's TV3 channel reported the "Together for Yes" secessionist group won 63 to 66 seats in the 135-member parliament, short of the 68 seats it needed for a majority, the AP reported. However, with 93 percent of the vote officially counted, "Together for Yes" was projected to win 62 seats and the radical and also secessionist Popular Unity Candidacy party (CUP) was projected for 10 seats, meaning a majority. The two parties together received 47.7 percent of the vote, so by a slim margin the popular vote was actually won by anti-independence parties.
Led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, the central government has said it will exercise all legal means to prevent Catalonia from seceding, the AP reported. European leaders have warned an independent Catalonia would not be allowed in the European Union, though secessionists have said they would try to stay in the bloc.
The central government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said it will use all legal means to prevent Catalonia from breaking away, and that such a move would be unconstitutional and threaten an economic recovery for Spain. The country has endured unemployment of over 22 percent for the past several years, reported the AP.
European leaders have also warned that an independent Catalonia would be ejected from the European Union, despite claims by secession supporters that a way may be found for it to remain part of the 28-nation bloc.
“We won,” said Democratic Convergence of Catalonia party leader Artur Mas speaking to a crowd in Barcelona, the AP reported Sunday. "There are two victories tonight, one for 'Yes' and another for democracy."
An exit poll conducted by Catalonia's TV3 channel reported the "Together for Yes" secessionist group won 63 to 66 seats in the 135-member parliament, short of the 68 seats it needed for a majority, the AP reported. However, with 93 percent of the vote officially counted, "Together for Yes" was projected to win 62 seats and the radical and also secessionist Popular Unity Candidacy party (CUP) was projected for 10 seats, meaning a majority. The two parties together received 47.7 percent of the vote, so by a slim margin the popular vote was actually won by anti-independence parties.
Led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, the central government has said it will exercise all legal means to prevent Catalonia from seceding, the AP reported. European leaders have warned an independent Catalonia would not be allowed in the European Union, though secessionists have said they would try to stay in the bloc.
The central government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said it will use all legal means to prevent Catalonia from breaking away, and that such a move would be unconstitutional and threaten an economic recovery for Spain. The country has endured unemployment of over 22 percent for the past several years, reported the AP.
European leaders have also warned that an independent Catalonia would be ejected from the European Union, despite claims by secession supporters that a way may be found for it to remain part of the 28-nation bloc.
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