Supreme Court sentences 9 Catalan.............>

SPAIN: Supreme Court sentences 9 Catalan separatist leaders to between 9 and 13

years in prison for their role in illegal independence referendum in 2017.

- Potential for pro-independence parties and activists to cause mass civil

disobedience across Catalonia in the wake of sentencing. 

- Catalan independence issue to play a major role in upcoming general election,

being held on Nov 10. 

- Based on current opinion polling, incumbent PM Pedro Sanchez could have to

rely on Catalan nationalists to prop up his Socialist gov't. This would likely

require significant concessions on behalf of Madrid towards Catalan interests. 

- Average opinion polling shows no party winning majority. PSOE ~26-28%, PP

~20-22%, Podemos ~12-13%, Citizens ~9-12%, VOX ~9-12%. Three or more parties

likely to be required to form gov't.