The separatist movement in the north-eastern Spanish region of Catalonia was Monday seen as losing momentum after voter turn-out in unofficial referendums on independence dropped over the weekend. About 300,000 people had been called to vote in 80 localities on whether the wealthy region of more than 7 million residents should become independent from Spain.

Only 21 per cent of those eligible to vote went to polls, down from 27 per cent in 160 localities in December.

Those who did vote, however, massively backed independence. About 92 per cent of Sunday´s voters supported an independent Catalonia, down from 94 per cent in December.

The votes were organized by separatist associations, without being recognized by the Spanish government.

The Catalan daily Periodico described the independence movement as “losing steam,” though commentator Enric Martin saw a 20 per cent turnout as no mean achievement in a “basically symbolic” vote.

The other Spanish region to have a major independence movement is the Basque region.

Copyright DPA

via Catalan independence movement ‘losing steam’ in Spain : Europe World.