SPAIN: What to watch after the Catalan election

The regional election taking place in Catalonia this Sunday, 14 February, will determine whether the new Catalan government develops a more confrontational stance towards Madrid on the secession issue. On the national level, the vote could complicate cooperation between the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and the ruling minority coalition of the Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and Unidas Podemos. A less cooperative ERC would make policy more uncertain, but the PSOE-Podemos coalition is expected to remain in power for the foreseeable future. Opinion polls currently point to a three-way race