Pro-independence parties win over 50% of votes for first time

Pro-independence parties have won more than 50% of the vote in the 2021 Catalan election, the first time they have managed to do so.

In what will be a major boost to supporters of Catalan independence, a combined total of 51.16% voters (with 99.79% votes counted) chose Esquerra (ERC), Junts per Catalunya (JxCat), CUP and smaller pro-independence parties in Sunday's ballot.

The independence camp has won a majority of seats in previous elections, for example in 2017 when they accounted for 70 of 135 seats, but this time they also surpassed 50% of votes cast.

During the election campaign, Laura Borràs, presidential candidate for JxCat (32 seats and 20% of votes), said that winning more than 50% of the votes would give the pro-independence bloc a mandate to "reactivate" the unilateral declaration of independence made in 2017.

There are, however, discrepancies within the independence camp on how best to proceed, with ERC, who won 33 seats and 21% votes, preferring dialogue with Spain over unilateral action.

The 51.16% total includes three smaller parties that did not gain enough votes to enter parliament: PdeCAT, Primàries Catalunya and Front Nacional de Catalunya.