According to media forecasts, the separatist parties may have defended their absolute majority in the early parliamentary elections in the Spanish region of Catalonia. However, according to figures published by state TV station RTVE on Sunday evening, the pro-independence parties are led this time by the liberal-conservative Junts party of ex-regional president Carles Puigdemont, who is living in exile in Belgium. Although the Socialist Party (PSC) led by top candidate Salvador Illa came first, with 37 to 40 seats it is likely to have missed out on an absolute majority of 68 MPs.