Catalans vote in regional election set to gauge support for separatist movement

An early voter casts his ballot for Catalonia’s regional elections in La Roca del Valles, north of Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

Catalonia is holding a regional election which is likely to reverberate in Spain’s national politics.

The ballot is a test both for the strength of the separatist movement in the wealthy north-eastern region and for the policies of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.