20-D Spanish Elections: 56.6% have voted in Catalonia by 6pm

Barcelona (CNA).- The Spanish Elections have aroused more interest in Catalonia than those in 2011, at least by 18.00 (CET) when the participation rate in Catalonia was 56.6%, 3.4 points higher than at the same hour on the day of the last General Elections. In the whole of Spain, 58.3% of the electorate have already cast their vote, a figure which is slightly higher than in 2011 (57.6%). The Catalan region with the highest rate of participation so far is Barcelona, with 57.6%, followed by the Girona region with 54.9%, Tarragona with 54.6% and Lleida with 52%. Journalists from nearly 600 media outlets are accredited and will be following Election Day in the main parties’ headquarters.

Election Day comes about three months after the 27-S Catalan Elections and its result, showing a majority for pro-independence supporters, has definitely marked the electoral campaign. Many parties have emphasised their position regarding Catalonia’s push for independence and a hypothetical reform of the Spanish Constitution and the territorial organisation.

However, these elections are also crucial as they may mark the end of the two-party system in Spain. For the first time since democracy was restored, the two main parties, the People’s Party, PP, and the Spanish Socialist Party, PSOE, may not have enough support to rule on their own and a scenario where post-electoral agreements would be required is likely to emerge. Anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans and alternative left Podemos are set to burst into the Spanish Parliament and change the political panorama. They have both shown their force and popular support in the past European, regional and local elections.