What's next for Catalonia, the Spanish region that wants to be Europe's next ... - Washington Post

On Sunday, political parties in favor of secession won an election in Catalonia, a wealthy region in northwestern Spain. The victors did not mince words when explaining what the results meant: "Catalans have voted yes to independence," said Artur Mas, the veteran Catalan leader.

Leaders of Junts pel Si ("Together for Yes," in Catalan) — a coalition of pro-independence parties from both sides of the political spectrum — had framed Sunday's election as a plebiscite on the region's future. Years of protests and an unofficial referendum on the question of independence, though dismissed by Madrid, have generated real political momentum in Catalonia toward secession.

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