PRO-independence parties in Catalonia are poised to retain control of the Catalan government.
The Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) whose leader is jailed indy activist Oriol Junqueras, and the Socialist party, led by former Spanish health minister Salvador Illa, both won 33 seats.
Illa said he would claim the presidency, but he will need support from opposition members.
Junqueras said his party will lead the next government and ERC’s presidential candidate Pere Aragonès immediately called for a new indyref.
“Pro-independence parties have reached more than 50% of the votes,” he said. “The Catalan people have spoken. The time has come to negotiate a referendum.”
READ MORE: Catalonia expected to be gripped by independence fever after election
Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia) led by the exiled former president Carles Puigdemont, won 32 seats.
Their presidential candidate Laura Borras, told TV3: “The result of the polls allows a pro-independence government. The new bases of the government pact are marked by the ballot box. The message is that we must work together.
“We are there to fulfil the mandate of the polls and this is, of course, independence … ERC has one more seat than us … We have no problem making Aragonès president.”
Junqueras told the same channel: “I have no doubt that Aragonés will be sworn in as president.
“We want to join all parties that are in favour of self-determination and amnesty [for the political prisoners]. All the citizens of the country must know that in us they will find empathy, sensitivity and an outstretched hand.
“ERC has always shown a sense of responsibility and now I demand the same from other parties.”
The third pro-indy party in the Catalan Parliament, CUP, went from four to nine seats and said people had voted to “start a new cycle”.
Dolors Sabater, their main candidate, said: “We can’t afford another political term with a pro-independence majority while not moving forward.”
For the first time the far-right Vox now have representation in the Catalan chamber after winning 11 seats.
The party’s main candidate, Ignacio Garriga, said: “We are the leaders of the opposition to the left.”
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