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Catalan Independence Supporters Aim to Hold Alternative Vote Count

© Sputnik / Jordi Boischareu / Go to the mediabankCatalonia's parliament voted to declare independence from Spain in Barcelona
Catalonia's parliament voted to declare independence from Spain in Barcelona - Sputnik International
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BARCELONA (Sputnik) - The Catalan National Assembly, an organization promoting the region's independence from Spain, will hold an alternative vote count at the ongoing snap parliamentary elections, the assembly's spokesperson told Sputnik on Thursday.

"We do not trust the official results and are fearing fraud, therefore we will hold our own count," the spokesperson said.

In order to do this, the assembly will collect data from the observers of three political parties that share the idea of Catalonia's independence from Spain. The assembly said observers were present at all polling stations.

Approximately 4,000 observers are involved in the elections and are now submitting data on the turnout to the assembly.

"We are getting the data during the day… Right after the closure of polling stations, our center will start receiving official information from there," the spokesperson noted.

The assembly's vote count results will be announced in Barcelona's Maritime Museum and reporters and foreign observers are invited to attend.

READ MORE: Puigdemont Says Catalans to Demonstrate 'Peoples' Strength' at Snap Election

Participants in a general strike at a rally in Barcelona, Catalonia - Sputnik International
Poll: Over 60% of Spaniards Seek Constitutional Amendments Amid Catalonia Crisis
According to the spokesperson, on Friday, the assembly was going to take its supporters to a rally in the center of Barcelona in order to either celebrate victory or protest against the election results.

The assembly cooperates with such political parties as Together for Catalonia (Junts per Catalunya), the Republican Left of Catalonia (Esquerra Republicana) and Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP).

Earlier in the day, polling stations opened across Catalonia to elect the region's legislative body in the snap election called by the Spanish government. The Spanish authorities dissolved the regional parliament in response to a resolution on the region's independence, adopted on October 27.

The 2017 regional elections that are scheduled on December 21 were called by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy after the invocation of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978, imposing Madrid's direct rule over Catalonia.

READ MORE: Catalonia Starts Holding Snap Parliamentary Election Amid Independence Crisis

According to the polls, pro-independence parties could again win the election, but they would barely be able to win the absolute majority. Borras' Junts pel Catalunya is expected to finish third winning 27 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament.

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