The regional president of Catalonia has announced an early election for May 12 following the inability of his minority government to pass a budget for the wealthy northeast region of Spain, which includes Barcelona.
The decision was made on the eve of a vote in Spain's national parliament regarding a controversial amnesty law that could potentially pardon numerous leaders and supporters of the separatist movement, some of whom were involved in Catalonia's unsuccessful attempt to declare independence from Spain in 2017.
During the 2017 independence bid, several separatist leaders were imprisoned, while others, such as former regional President Carles Puigdemont, fled the country.
The proposed amnesty has sparked widespread criticism among many Spaniards who believe that individuals implicated in inciting one of the nation's most significant crises since the transition to democracy following the death of General Francisco Franco in 1975 should not be absolved of charges like sedition and rebellion.
Despite opposition to the amnesty law, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government in Madrid relies on Catalan separatist parties to secure the passage of legislation in Spain's parliament. The central government is also seeking the support of these parties to approve a national budget.
The Socialists, led by Sanchez, and their allies are anticipated to offer their initial support for the amnesty law during a parliamentary vote scheduled for Thursday, while the conservative Popular Party and right-wing politicians are expected to oppose it.
The Catalan regional election was mandated to take place before the end of the year. Catalonia has been under the governance of separatist parties for over a decade, although recent polls indicate a strong showing for the Socialists in the region.
