BBC reported that pro-independence parties, which support a process for gaining independence from Spain, won regional elections in Catalonia with nearly 90% of votes counted.
The Junts per Si alliance with the regional government president belonging to it won 62 seats in the parliament of Catalonia. The radical left CUP, which also supports Catalan independence, won 10 mandates. So, both the main separatist alliance and the smaller nationalist party gained 72 seats in the regional parliament.
Earlier, these parties promised to declare independence of the region in six months after winning elections.
National government officials say there is nothing to differ the latest elections from the previous ones as they are unlikely to result in Catalan independence. However, Spain's central government pledged to challenge any unilateral moves towards independence in court.
Pro-independence parties said ahead of the vote that they considered it a de facto referendum on independence from Spain. In case they succeed in winning the majority in regional elections, they will develop policy aimed at achieving Catalonia's secession from Spain.
The process of breaking away from Spain implies forming a state within a state with its own Ministry of Foreign Affairs, central bank, and tax services. In addition, the new government expressed its intention to draft a new constitution.
