Catalonia holds regional election pivotal for independence campaign

Catalonia on Thursday holds a regional election which the Spanish government hopes will strip pro-independence parties of their control of the Catalan parliament. Final polls showed separatist and unionist parties running neck-and-neck, and an effective pro-independence majority remains a likely outcome, Reuters said. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called the vote in October, and sacked Catalonia’s previous government for holding a banned referendum and declaring independence. None of the six parties in the Catalan parliament are expected on their own to come close to the 68-seat majority.