Catalonia's pro-independence parties have maintained their absolute majority in the regional parliament after a snap election called when Carles Puigdemont was pushed out of power. With more than 90 per cent of the votes counted, three separatist parties had gained the 68 seats required for a majority and will now attempt to form a coalition. The result will be a huge embarrassment to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy who kicked Mr Puigdemont out of office and called the election after he held an independence referendum ruled illegal by Spain's constitutional court. As news of victory spread, an aide of Mr Puigdemont text journalists saying: 'We're the comeback kids.'
