The regional branch of Podemos, CeC-Podem, which has appeared to oscillate between the pro and anti-independence camps, could end up being a power broker after the election although it has said it would not join a coalition including Ciudadanos or the PP, its main Spanish political rivals.
Meanwhile, Ciudadanos is one of the main pro-unity parties and the one most likely to garner votes on the unionist cause; polls currently show it with around 23 percent of the vote, or around 33 seats in Catalonia’s 135 seat parliament.
Its biggest competitor is the pro-independence ERC party, also seen with around 23 percent of the vote. An absolute majority in parliament requires 68 seats and a hung parliament — where no one party gains enough votes to govern alone — is widely expected on Thursday.
Voter turnout is expected to be very high in the snap election, which was called by Spain’s government after it sacked the regional parliament in October because it declared Catalonia independent. Spain reacted by invoking Article 155 to seize control of the region.
Luis Garicano, economic advisor and executive board member of anti-independence party Ciudadanos, said he expected the voice of anti-independence voters to be heard. “The pro-independence parties have always, historically, been very mobilized for the regional elections and the voters who are not voting for pro-independence parties tend to be more mobilized for other elections,” he told CNBC Thursday.
