Page 10 - Aruba Today

A10

WORLD NEWSMonday 28 September 2015

Pro-secession parties in Catalonia win landmark vote

The President of Democratic Convergence of Catalonia Artur Mas, is acclaimed by supporters in tory for Catalonia and the Secessionists have long
Barcelona, Spain, Sunday Sept. 27, 2015. Voters in Catalonia participated in an election Sunday victory of the ‘yes,’” he pushed for an indepen-
that could propel the northeastern region toward independence from the rest of Spain or quell said. “We have a lot of dence referendum, but
secessionism for years. work ahead, we won’t let Spain’s central govern-
you down, we know we ment refused to allow it,
(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) have the democratic man- saying such a vote would
date. We have won and be unconstitutional. So the
HAROLD HECKLE 135-member parliament. If to rural areas with fewer that gives us an enormous pro-independence parties
JOSEPH WILSON they join forces with the left- voters. strength to push this project pitched the vote for re-
Associated Press wing pro-independence Still, Catalonia leader Artur forward.” gional parliamentary seats
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Popular Unity Candidacy Mas claimed victory as a The pro-independence as a de facto plebiscite.
Pro-secession parties push- party, which won 10 seats, jubilant crowd interrupted parties had nearly 48 per- The parliament, based in
ing for Spain’s northeastern they will have the 68 seats him with cheers and chants cent of the popular vote, Barcelona, represents the
Catalonia region to break needed to push forward of “Independence!” falling just short of a ma- northeastern region of 7.5
away and form a new their plan to make Cata- Many Catalans who favor jority because of a quirk in million people bordering
Mediterranean nation won lonia independent from breaking away from Spain Spanish election law that France that is responsible
a landmark vote Sunday Spain by 2017. say their industrialized re- gives a higher proportion for nearly a fifth of Spain’s
by capturing a majority of But CUP had insisted that gion, which represents of legislative seats to rural economic output.
seats in the region’s parlia- it would only join an inde- nearly a fifth of Spain’s areas with fewer voters. Spanish Prime Minister Mari-
ment, setting up a possible pendence bid if secession- economic output, pays too Critics said the pro-inde- ano Rajoy’s ruling Popular
showdown over indepen- ist parties won more than much in taxes and receives pendence forces failed to Party government says it
dence with the central 50 percent of the popular less than its fair share of gain legitimacy for their se- will use all legal means to
government in Madrid. vote. They won only about government investment. cession push with the elec- prevent Catalonia from
With 97 percent of the vote 46 percent because of a “As democrats we were tion result. breaking away, an exit
counted, the “Together quirk in Spanish election prepared to accept the “They have lost the elec- European leaders have
for Yes” group of seces- law that gives a higher pro- defeat. Now, we demand tions as a de facto referen- warned would include
sionists had 62 seats in the portion of legislative seats that they accept the vic- dum because they haven’t ejection from the Europe-
won the 50 percent of the an Union despite claims by
vote. Mas should resign,” secession supporters that a
said candidate Carlos way may be found for an
Carrizosa of the anti-inde- independent Catalonia
pendence Citizens party, to stay. Spain’s govern-
which won the second- ment has also said it is con-
highest number of seats. cerned that if Catalonia
Popular Unity Candidacy tries to break free it would
leader David Fernandez disrupt the fragile signs of
insisted in a television in- economic recovery for the
terview that his party “will country that has endured
not be the one to fail in- unemployment of over 22
dependence.” But differ- percent for several years.
ences are already appar- But the ruling party’s can-
ent as party leaders have didate to lead Catalonia,
declared that they want Xavier Garcia Albiol, ac-
an immediate declaration knowledged that Sunday’s
of independence rather result was a blow.
than the 18-month seces- “These are not the results
sion roadmap favored by that we expected or want-
the “Yes” bloc. ed,” he said.q