(Anaru, Creative Commons

Voters in Spain's Catalan region are at the polls today in an election that could lead Catalonia down the path of independence and secession.

The election comes after Catalan President Artur Mas called for an early vote to challenge the national government. Catalan independence isn't on the ballot, but a number of candidates favor secession and say that they would introduce a referendum soon after the election.

Mas, who turned in favor of Catalan independence this fall, thinks the region, one of Spain's 17, has a better chance as its own sovereign entity within the European Union. The sentiment inside Catalonia has been growing for months, including a large rally in September when Spain's government said it wouldn't decrease taxes in Catalonia.

Pro-independence supporters argue that Catalonia, which is one of the wealthier parts of Spain, is being forced to contribute more of its tax dollars to the national recovery effort. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy argues that secession is a bad choice that does little to help either Catalonia or Spain cope with the ongoing economic problems in Europe. Rajoy also said that he would be willing to cite the constitution and block any independence referendum produced in Catalonia.

Mas' conservative party is predicted to maintain power, but not hold a supermajority in the 135-member parliament. In order to get an independence referendum, he would need to ally with right-wing and leftist parties that also favor secession from Spain.

Spain is one of European nations hit the hardest by the global recession. Its national unemployment rate is 25.8 percent, while youth unemployment stands at 52.3 percent. The country imposed a number of austerity measures, prompting large anti-austerity and anti-government protests since the spring of 2011. Catalans say that the austerity measures hit their region the hardest. Catalonia's debt is greater than 42 billion euros, more than a quarter of the total debt from Spain's regional governments.

The European Union announced this weekend that it will give 35 billion euros to Spain for its banks following requests for a bailout. The deal comes following heavy speculation over whether or not the country would ask for aid. The bailout deal would go into effect in December and put aside the funds for the nation's four nationalized banks. However, the deal requires those banks to cut thousands of jobs as part of further austerity measures.

Read more of Neon Tommy's coverage of Spain here.
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