World

Campaigns end in secession-dominated Catalan election

19 of December 2017

Catalan parties' candidates, Xavier Garcia Albiol of Partido Popular (Popular Party), Miquel Iceta of Partido Socialista de Catalunya (Socialist Party of Catalonia), Marta Rovira of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (Republican Left of Catalonia), Jordi Turull of Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia), Ines Arrimadas of Ciudadanos (Citizens) party, Xavier Domenech of Catalunya en Comu (Catalonia in Common) and Carles Riera of Candidatura d'Unitat Popular–Crida Constituent (Popular Unity Candidacy–Constituent Call), from left to right, pose for photographers on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 in Barcelona at the beginning of the last electoral television debate ahead of Thursday's regional election. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez),Catalan parties' candidates, Xavier Garcia Albiol of Partido Popular (Popular Party), Miquel Iceta of Partido Socialista de Catalunya (Socialist Party of Catalonia), Marta Rovira of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (Republican Left of Catalonia), Jordi Turull of Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia), Ines Arrimadas of Ciudadanos (Citizens) party, Xavier Domenech of Catalunya en Comu (Catalonia in Common) and Carles Riera of Candidatura d'Unitat Popular–Crida Constituent (Popular Unity Candidacy–Constituent Call), from left to right, pose for photographers on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 in Barcelona at the beginning of the last electoral television debate ahead of Thursday's regional election. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Political parties for and against Catalonia's independence from Spain are making a final effort to convince voters as campaigning ends for a regional election seen as another litmus test on secession fervor. The election Thursday is being held in exceptional circumstances as it was ordered by the Spanish government when it seized control of the region, sacked its government and dissolved the regional parliament following a declaration of independence by lawmakers there Oct. 27.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Political parties for and against Catalonia’s independence from Spain are making a final effort to convince voters as campaigning for a regional election comes to an end.

The election Thursday is being held in exceptional circumstances as it was ordered by the Spanish government when it seized control of the region, sacked its government and dissolved the regional parliament following a declaration of independence by lawmakers there Oct. 27.

Several of the ousted cabinet, including former President Carles Puigdemont, are campaigning from Brussels where have sought refuge from Spanish justice while others are in jail in Spain on provisional rebellion charges.

Puigdemont is to close his re-election campaign with a video speech Tuesday to be relayed at a party rally in Barcelona.