By , BARCELONA (Reuters) - Separatist parties won enough seats on Sunday in Catalonia’s regional parliament to strengthen their majority, although a strong showing for the local branch of Spain’s ruling Socialists pointed to a dialogue, rather than breakup, with Madrid.With over 99% of ballots counted, separatists won 50.9% of the vote, surpassing the 50% threshold for the first time. The most likely scenario was for the two main separatist parties to extend their coalition government.The final outcome is unlikely, however, to lead to any repeat of the chaotic, short-lived declaration of...…By , BARCELONA (Reuters) - Separatist parties won enough seats on Sunday in Catalonia’s regional parliament to strengthen their majority, although a strong showing for the local branch of Spain’s ruling Socialists pointed to a dialogue, rather than breakup, with Madrid.With over 99% of ballots counted, separatists won 50.9% of the vote, surpassing the 50% threshold for the first time. The most likely scenario was for the two main separatist parties to extend their coalition government.The final outcome is unlikely, however, to lead to any repeat of the chaotic, short-lived declaration of...WW…

By , BARCELONA (Reuters) - Separatist parties won enough seats on Sunday in Catalonia’s regional parliament to strengthen their majority, although a strong showing for the local branch of Spain’s ruling Socialists pointed to a dialogue, rather than breakup, with Madrid.With over 99% of ballots counted, separatists won 50.9% of the vote, surpassing the 50% threshold for the first time. The most likely scenario was for the two main separatist parties to extend their coalition government.The final outcome is unlikely, however, to lead to any repeat of the chaotic, short-lived declaration of...…By , BARCELONA (Reuters) - Separatist parties won enough seats on Sunday in Catalonia’s regional parliament to strengthen their majority, although a strong showing for the local branch of Spain’s ruling Socialists pointed to a dialogue, rather than breakup, with Madrid.With over 99% of ballots counted, separatists won 50.9% of the vote, surpassing the 50% threshold for the first time. The most likely scenario was for the two main separatist parties to extend their coalition government.The final outcome is unlikely, however, to lead to any repeat of the chaotic, short-lived declaration of...WW…

By , BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Outgoing Catalan leader Quim Torra said on Monday that regional elections would be held in the coming months after Spain’s Supreme Court upheld a ruling barring him from public office for 18 months, sparking protests in Barcelona in the evening.Slideshow In a televised address, Torra said he would appeal the sentence, which he described as a politically motivated move to overthrow the Catalan government.Nevertheless, the ruling took effect as soon as Torra was officially notified of it, meaning Catalan deputy leader Pere Aragones is expected to become...…By , BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Outgoing Catalan leader Quim Torra said on Monday that regional elections would be held in the coming months after Spain’s Supreme Court upheld a ruling barring him from public office for 18 months, sparking protests in Barcelona in the evening.Slideshow In a televised address, Torra said he would appeal the sentence, which he described as a politically motivated move to overthrow the Catalan government.Nevertheless, the ruling took effect as soon as Torra was officially notified of it, meaning Catalan deputy leader Pere Aragones is expected to become...WW…