Court Provisionally Suspends Postponement of Catalan Regional Election

The Catalan High Court has provisionally suspended a gov't decree postponing the Catalan general election from 14 February to 30 May. The delay was initially brought in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• At present the suspension is provisional while magistrates deliberate on the content of the decree from the pro-independence Catalan gov't.
• Comes after a request from minor pro-Spanish union parties, which argued the delay meant a 'suspension of democracy'.
• Based on current opinion polling it is set to be very close between the pro- and anti-independence parties over which bloc wins a majority. The left-wing En Comu Podem - which is not pro-Catalan independence but is amenable to an independence referendum - could become the kingmaker in any post-election Catalan gov't. Equally, there could be another pro-independence minority gov't formed as is the case at present.