Catalonia will this evening hold a regional election which the Spanish government hopes will strip pro-independence parties of their control of the Catalan parliament.
Although, final polls showed separatists and unionists parties running a close race, an effective pro-independence majority remains a likely outcome that would jolt financial markets and cast a long shadow over national politics.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called the election in October in the hopes of returning Catalonia to “normality” under a unionist government. He sacked its previous government for holding a banned referendum and declaring independence.
A new separatist majority would further dampen investors’ confidence in Catalonia, which by itself has an economy larger than that of Portugal and is the main driver of Spain’s economic growth. However, pro-independence leaders have backed away from demands for unilateral secession.
Voting stations in the affluent region of northeastern Spain will open on Thursday at 09:00 CET and close at 20:00. The election is expected to draw a record turnout.
Thursday’s vote is being considered a de facto referendum on how support for the independence movement has fared in recent months.
