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.