EU THREATEN CATALONIA WITH SEPARATISM IF THEY PRESS AHEAD WITH INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN

Catalonia's separatists look set to regain power in the wealthy Spanish region after local elections on Thursday, deepening the nation's political crisis in a sharp rebuke to prime minister Mariano Rajoy and European Union leaders who backed him.

With nearly all votes counted, separatist parties won a slim majority in Catalan parliament, a result that promises to prolong political tensions which have damaged Spain's economy and prompted a business exodus from the region.

Rajoy, who called the elections after sacking the previous secessionist government, had hoped Catalonia's ‘silent majority’ would deal separatism a decisive blow in what was a de facto independence referendum, but his hard line backfired.

THE EUROPEAN Commission have re-iterated their threat to remove Catalan from the Brussels bloc if they press ahead with independence.

Catalonians have been taking part in an extraordinary vote after direct rule was introduced in the region following a referendum on independence in October that the Spanish Government called “illegal”.

The results of the election revealed the Pro-independence Parties Together for Catalonia, Republican Left of Catalonia and Popular Unity have won a large majority in the 135 seat Parliament.

However, the European Union have given their backing to the Madrid Government following the poll and have essentially condemned the independence movement.

Speaking on behalf of the EU Commission, spokesman Alexander Winterstein said: “Our position on the question of Catalonia is well known and has been regularly restated, at all levels. It will not change.

He added: “In relation to a regional election, we have no comment to make.”

Following October’s referendum, won by the separatist parties, the EU denounced the then Catalan president Carles Puigdemont for his efforts to free the region from Spain.

At the time the EU released a statement saying: “Under the Spanish Constitution, the referendum vote in Catalonia was not legal.”

They went on to say: “Beyond the purely legal aspects of this matter, the Commission believes that these are times for unity and stability, not divisiveness and fragmentation.”

They also threatened Catalan independence would mean the nation would “find itself outside of the European Union”.

The announcement from Brussels could put the EU under strain after Mr Puigdemont vowed to press ahead with independence.

Speaking following the result of the Catalan election he declared that the election meant that the “Catalan republic” had won.

He also criticized the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

He said: “Rajoy's method has failed to stop the independence movement".

"Despite the difficulties we have faced, the absolute majority of independence continues.”

He added: “The Catalan people have won the right to be listened to.”