Barcelona Dec 22 (IANS) Catalan separatist parties are on track to win most seats in the new regional parliament setting the stage for more confrontation with Spain s government.
The Citizens party which wants Catalonia to remain a semi-autonomous part of Spain is the biggest party therefore it is unclear who will be given the right to form a government BBC reported.
The Madrid government stripped Catalonia of its autonomy and called the election after declaring an October independence referendum illegal.
With nearly all votes counted the pro-independence parties Together for Catalonia (JxCat) Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and Popular Unity (CUP) were on course to win a total of 70 seats giving them a majority.
Within the separatist party block ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont s JxCat was slightly ahead of the ERC led by his former deputy Oriol Junqueras.
Speaking in Brussels where he is in self-imposed exile Puigdemont said the "Catalan republic" had won and "the Spanish state has been defeated".
The situation called for "rectification reparation and restitution " he was quoted as saying.
He is accused by Spanish prosecutors of rebellion and sedition. Junqueras faces the same charges and is currently in prison.
--IANs
sku/
