(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/121125-world-spain-polls-story-9a.photoblog600.jpg)Lluis Gene / AFP - Getty ImagesCurrent President of Catalonia and leader of the CiU (Catalan Convergence and Unity) party Artur Mas casts his ballot for regional elections in Barcelona on Sunday. By ReutersUPDATED at 7:50 p.m. ET: BARCELONA, Spain -- Separatists in Spain's Catalonia won regional elections on Sunday but failed to get the resounding mandate they need to push convincingly for a referendum on independence.
Catalan President Artur Mas, who has implemented unpopular spending cuts in an economic crisis, had called an early election to test support for his new drive for independence for Catalonia, a wealthy region in northeastern Spain.
Voters handed almost two thirds of the 135-seat local parliament to four different Catalan separatist parties that all want to hold a referendum on secession from Spain.
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