Exit polls see majority for Catalan separatists

With 99 percent of the vote counted, the "Together for Yes" group of secessionists from across a broad political spectrum had 62 seats in the 135-member regional parliament.

If the secessionist alliance join forces with the radical pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy party known as CUP, which won 10 seats, they will have more than the 68 seats needed to try to push forward their plan to make Catalonia independent from Spain by 2017.

The election result could potentially set the region on a collision course with Spain's central government over the issue of Catalonia gaining independence.

After voting in central Barcelona, the region's president Artur Mas hailed the election as "a great victory for democracy."

"We have surpassed all the obstacles placed by the Spanish government. Now, Catalonia faces its own destiny."

Officials said turnout was at 63 percent by 6:00 pm local time (1600 GMT) - just two hours before polls closed - nearly seven percent higher than in the last regional election in 2012.

Secession technically deemed unconstitutional

Both parties said that if they win a majority, they would unilaterally declare independence within 18 months, something the central government in Madrid said it would block in court because the Spanish constitution would not allow it.

The drive to break the rich northeastern region away from Spain and create a new state in Europe has prompted a fierce standoff with the Spanish government in recent months. Spain's national government wants the country to keep the country united, as the eurozone's fourth-biggest economy continues to recover from recession. Secessionist demands surged in the recent economic crisis.

The central government of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said it would use all legal means to prevent Catalonia from breaking away - an exit that European leaders warned would include ejection from the European Union.

With its own cultural traditions and language, which is spoken along with Spanish and was suppressed under three decades of General Francisco Franco's dictatorship, Catalonia has seen numerous bids for greater autonomy over the past century.

Public opinion still divided

"I have wanted independence ever since I was young," Jordi Perez, a 50-year-old civil servant from Barcelona said after casting his ballot. "During three centuries they have robbed us of our culture. We have reached the moment that the Catalan people say enough is enough."

But school teacher Sandra Guerrero, 30, said that the elections had motivated her to vote for the first time. She voted for the Citizens party, which is against independence and arguing that secession would hurt the region.

"We Catalans have the fame of all being separatists, but the truth is that I have voted 'no,'" Guerrero said.

"My parents are from Andalucia (in southern Spain). People from outside Catalonia have always treated me well. I feel part of Spain. I am proud to be Catalan, but also to be Spanish."

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ss/gsw (Reuters, AP, AFP)