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00:00 A new era for Catalans, such is the promise of socialist leader Salvador Illa after securing
00:07 the largest share of votes in the region's parliamentary election, meaning Catalonia
00:11 could be led by a party opposed to independence.
00:14 "Everything is going to change.
00:17 If Salvador Illa governs, health care will change, education will change, hope will return.
00:22 I'm very happy."
00:23 "This is good news for Catalonia and also for the socialist party of Catalonia, because
00:29 it seems to be the direction we need in this country to move towards a more stable, less
00:33 unbalanced, more comfortable situation."
00:36 It's a huge blow to the pro-independence parties, who have now lost their decade-long
00:41 hold on power in Catalonia.
00:44 Six years after Carlos Priest-Demont and the separatist leaders led an independence bid
00:49 which plunged Spain into a deep political crisis, pro-independence sentiment in the
00:54 region of 8 million has weakened, with the public becoming more concerned about social
00:59 issues.
01:00 "The work of the republican government, of the pro-independence and left-wing government
01:04 and the commitment to negotiation to resolve the political conflict that allows to end
01:08 the repression and open paths has either not been sufficiently valued by the citizens or
01:14 the citizens have considered that now it's up to someone else to lead a new stage."
01:19 The socialist party claimed 42 seats in parliament, a first for them in 45 years, but is still
01:25 short of the 68-seat majority needed to rule.
01:29 It will have to seek the backing of others like the republican left ERC from the separatist
01:34 camp or other left-wing parties.
01:36 It presents a major victory and vindication for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez,
01:41 who has worked on calming tensions in Catalonia after years of political crisis, notably his
01:47 widely unpopular amnesty bill that would benefit nationalist leaders facing legal action following
01:53 their succession attempt in 2017.