Puigdemont Says Catalans to Demonstrate 'Peoples' Strength' at Snap Election

According to the most recent polls, Junts per Catalunya, the party led by Puigdemont, who fled to Brussels in late October after Spain dissolved Catalonia's government and parliament following the community's declaration of independence, is set to gain 27-29 seats in the election and 19 percent of the vote. This is 20 percent less than the party had gained in the 2015 election, where it came out with 62 seats.

"Today, we will again demonstrate the strength of a resistant people. Let the spirit of October 1 [independence referendum date] always lead us," Puigdemont said on Twitter.

The Catalans are to elect 135 lawmakers — 85 from Barcelona, 17 from Girona, 15 from Lleida, 18 from Tarragona.

READ MORE: Catalonia Starts Holding Snap Parliamentary Election Amid Independence Crisis

According to the polls, a total of seven Catalan political parties have chances to enter the parliament. The pro-independence Republican Left of Catalonia or the centrist pro-union Citizens party supporting the territorial integrity of Spain is expected to become the leader of the vote. Anti-independence Socialists' Party of Catalonia and Puigdemont's Junts per Catalunya will compete for the third place.

Polls show that pro-independence parties could again win the election, but they would barely be able to win the absolute majority.