Spain's Catalonia region re-elects president who promises independence referendum

3bde37c9-APTOPIX Spain Catalonia Independence

Artur Mas, head of the Convergence and Union, walks to the stand to deliver a speech at the parliament in Barcelona, Spain, Friday Dec. 21, 2012. Regional parliament deputies in Catalonia have voted back into office a president who has promised to stage a hugely controversial referendum on independence from Spain. Artur Mas, head of the Convergence and Union was voted president Friday by 71 deputies in favor and 63 against. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) (The Associated Press)

prev next

Artur Mas, head of the Convergence and Union, talks to members of the parliament during a voting session at the Catalonia parliament in Barcelona, Spain, Friday Dec. 21, 2012. Regional parliament deputies in Catalonia have voted back into office a president who has promised to stage a hugely controversial referendum on independence from Spain. Artur Mas, head of the Convergence and Union was voted president Friday by 71 deputies in favor and 63 against. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) (The Associated Press)

Regional parliament legislators in Catalonia have voted back into office a president who has promised to stage a hugely controversial referendum on independence from Spain.

Artur Mas, head of the Convergence and Union group, was re-elected president Friday in a 71-63 vote.

Mas called early elections in November having proposed the referendum after Spain rejected demands to grant the region special fiscal powers. But his party did worse than expected in the election and was left needing a provisional partnership agreement with Catalonia's pro-independence Republican Left.

Spain's national government says any referendum proposing a change in the region's status within Spain would be illegal and unconstitutional.

Polls show Catalan residents are evenly divided over independence, but a majority opposes it if it means exiting the European Union.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/spains-catalonia-region-re-elects-president-who-promises-independence-referendum