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Catalan separatists look set to win regional election

More confrontation with Madrid government expected

Thursday, 21st December 2017

©PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images

Most seats in Catalonia's new regional parliament will be won by separatist parties, as 95% of the votes have been confirmed.

But to complicated the country's delicate political picture, the Citizens party – which wants the region to remain part of Spain – looks set to be the biggest single party.

This is likely to lead to conflict over who can form the next government.

Turnout was a record for a Catalan election, with the figure at least 80%.

The Madrid government stripped Catalonia of its autonomy and called the election after declaring an October independence referendum illegal.