MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Together for Yes coalition of pro-independence parties have pledged to set processes in motion for the autonomous region to separate from Spain within 18 months, should they win a majority.
Polls suggest the coalition, comprising the center-right Democratic Convergence of Catalonia and the left-wing Republican Left of Catalonia political parties, is expected to get 63-67 seats out of the 68 needed to guarantee an absolute majority in the 135-strong parliament. Another pro-independence party, a radical left-wing the Popular Unity Candidacy, is expected to obtain 7-11 seats.
Catalonia has long sought independence from Spain, accusing Madrid of constraining its economic and cultural autonomy and of unfairly distributing resources in the country.
Over 80 percent of Catalans who participated in an unofficial November 2014 vote supported seceding from Spain. More than two million people out of an estimated 5.4 million eligible voters took part in the informal, non-binding ballot.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has repeatedly said that Catalonia’s secession would be illegal.
