Catalans go to the polls in regional elections

CATALANS went to the polls today in a regional election that will test the strength of the separatist movement in the wealthy north-eastern part of Spain.More than 5.7 million voters were eligible to choose lawmakers for the regional parliament, based in Barcelona.Separatists have held the regional government for more than a decade. But polling and a national election in July show that support for secession has shrunk since former regional president Carles Puigdemont led an illegal breakaway bid in 2017.