Catalonia election: Voters await result as polls close

Counting is under way after record numbers voted in Catalonia's regional election, called by Spain following a controversial independence referendum.

The snap election pits Catalan pro-independence parties against those who want the region to remain a semi-autonomous part of Spain.

One exit poll suggested that separatist parties would win a majority.

A BBC correspondent says there seems little prospect that the election will solve Catalonia's political crisis.

The exit poll said the separatist Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and the unionist Citizens (Cs) were neck and neck in the race to become the biggest party in the new parliament.

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Spain dismissed the separatist Catalan government in October after declaring the referendum to be illegal.

The Spanish daily El Pais said on its front page that one million undecided voters could have the last word on Thursday.

Polling stations opened at 09:00 local time (08:00 GMT) and closed at 20:00. Most results are expected by 21:00 GMT.

Turnout was reportedly more than 80%, a record for a Catalan regional election.

Catalonia crisis in 300 words

Long queues of voters - but no pets

By Europe reporter Gavin Lee in Barcelona

No pets allowed - it's a pooches-at-the-door policy here in the central Barcelona polling station of Casinet d'Hostafrancs, and there must be one dog to every 10 voters.

Early voters queued in their dozens here 20 minutes before polls opened - something I didn't see in Berlin, Paris or Amsterdam this year for elections elsewhere in Europe. It may point to a record turnout across Catalonia.

Opinion polls predict up to 85% of the 5.3 million eligible voters will turn out today.

In the queue Ana, a student, described today as "the most important election in the history of Catalonia". When polls close tonight the people, given the legal right to vote this time, will have shown the direction in which they want the independence crisis to play out.

Who is predicted to win?

An aggregate of polls published earlier this week by El Pais suggested ERC would come slightly ahead of Cs, with the pro-independence JxCat party of ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont predicted to come third.

That would mean no parliamentary majority in favour of independence and possibly lengthy negotiations to form a government.

"Today we will demonstrate the strength of an indomitable people. May the spirit of #1oct guide us always", Mr Puigdemont tweeted from self-imposed exile in Belgium. Spain declared the 1 October Catalan independence referendum illegal.

But he said "this is not a normal day" and "neither is it a day of normal democracy". His team told the BBC that he was unable to vote as he was in Brussels.

The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Barcelona says there is every prospect that the two sides in the independence debate will once again end up with a similar share of the vote and the election will restate Catalonia's problem rather than resolve it.

Why is this election happening?

Separatists who dominated the Catalan parliament declared independence on 27 October, after the referendum.

In an attempt to stop that referendum, Spanish police stormed some polling stations. However voters defied the Spanish courts and riot police to cast their ballots.

The move led to violent clashes with hundreds of people reported injured. Footage showing police tackling people at polling stations and pulling a woman by her hair caused outrage.

According to the organisers, 90% of voters were in favour of independence, but fewer than half the region's electorate took part.

Mr Puigdemont decided it was enough to declare independence from Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy then sacked the Catalan government, imposed direct rule and called the 21 December election.

16% of Spain's population live in Catalonia, and it produces:
25.6% of Spain's exports
19% of Spain's GDP
20.7% of foreign investment

Getty

What happened to the Catalan government?

Prosecutors accused 13 Catalan separatist politicians of rebellion and sedition, including Mr Puigdemont and four others who fled to Belgium.

Among the accused, two pro-independence politicians are in Spanish prisons, and six are being monitored while on bail.

As a result, campaigning for Thursday's snap election has led to some unusual scenes, with Mr Puigdemont addressing rallies via a videolink from Brussels.

His former deputy, Oriol Junqueras, has sent messages to supporters from prison.

Reports say he sent a postal vote from prison. He tweeted a fond greeting to his wife to mark their fourth wedding anniversary, saying: "Today I wish to be with you and the children for more reasons than ever".

In the run-up to the referendum Mr Puigdemont's JxCat party had been allied to the ERC, led by Mr Junqueras.

But the ERC has opted out of a new alliance, making Mr Junqueras the main separatist rival to Mr Puigdemont.

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