Catalonia is gearing up for a crucial regional election on Sunday that is poised to have significant repercussions on Spain's national political landscape. The vote will serve as a litmus test for the separatist movement in the affluent northeastern region and will also reflect the policies of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
More than 5.7 million eligible voters are set to cast their ballots to elect lawmakers for the regional parliament based in Barcelona. The separatists have maintained control of the regional government for over a decade, but recent polling data and the outcome of a national election in July suggest a slight decline in support for secession since the failed attempt led by former regional president Carles Puigdemont in 2017.
Despite being a fugitive from Spanish authorities, Puigdemont is actively participating in the election campaign from southern France and has expressed intentions to return to Spain once the newly elected lawmakers convene to select a regional president. His return hinges on the approval of a controversial amnesty by Spain's parliament, which is part of Prime Minister Sánchez's efforts to ease tensions in Catalonia, including the recent pardoning of prominent jailed separatists.
The election will witness a showdown within the separatist faction between Puigdemont's conservative Together party and Pere Aragonès's Republican Left of Catalonia. Additionally, a new far-right pro-secession party called Catalan Alliance, which advocates against unauthorized immigration and challenges the authority of the Spanish state, is vying for parliamentary representation.
With a total of nine parties in the running, none are expected to secure the absolute majority of 68 seats in the chamber. As a result, post-election negotiations and coalition-building will be pivotal in determining the future governance of Catalonia.
