The rise of Podemos poses a challenge for pro-independence parties ahead of the 2015 Catalan elections

On 15 January, early parliamentary elections were called in Catalonia, with the vote set to be held in September. Anwen Elias writes on how the elections will shape the on-going debates over Catalan independence. She notes that one of the main challenges pro-independence parties will face is the rise of Podemos, which supports Catalonia’s ‘right to decide’ over the issue, but not its secession from Spain. Ultimately it remains far from clear whether the elections will provide the independence movement with the support it would like from Catalan voters.