BACKGROUND Catalonia's political parties

Barcelona (dpa) - Parties and lists little known outside Spain will play a key role in the political tussle over Catalan independence. Whether the separatist forces will once again be able to form a coalition capable of governing following early elections on Thursday remains unclear. The more important lists and parties contesting the vote:- Junts per Catalunya (JxCat): The list led by deposed regional president Carles Puigdemont derives from the electoral alliance that he campaigned on the basis of at the last elections in 2015 (Junts pel Si - Together for Yes). JxCat, which backs Catalan independence, is made up of candidates from Puigdemont‘s conservative Partido Democrata Europeo Catalan (PDeCAT) and of independent candidates. Puigdemont‘s deputy on the list is Jordi Sanchez, leader of the influential Catalan National Assembly (ANC). He is currently in detention accused of sedition.- Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC): This leftist party was formerly part of Puigdemont‘s electoral alliance, but intends to stand separately this time. The lead candidate is the former vice president of the autonomous region, Oriol Junqueras, who is currently detained on charges of rebellion. The ERC was leading in the polls as election day approached.- Candidatura de Unidad Popular (CUP): The 10 members of parliament of this alternative left and anti-capitalist party provided Puigdemont with the necessary majority. The CUP has long been the driving force behind the controversial declaration of independence.- Catalunya en Comu (CatComu): The Catalan branch of the leftist Podemos Party has joined forces with Catalunya en Comu, which is led by Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau. This leftist alliance rejects both a unilateral declaration of independence and the dissolution of the regional government on the basis of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution. It calls instead for a referendum held with Madrid‘s approval.- Ciudadanos and Partido Popular (PP): The liberal Ciudadanos (Citizens) Party under Albert Rivera, founded in Catalonia in 2006, is the largest opposition party in the Catalan parliament with 25 members. Ciudadanos is a counter to the region‘s separatist groups and has been an active force in the whole country only for the past three years. Lead candidate Inés Arrimadas is seen as the strongest condidate among the opponents of separatism. The PP, led nationally by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, had only 11 members in the last Catalan parliament. Both parties completely reject independence for Catalonia from Spain.- Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya (PSC): The Catalan branch of the Spanish Socialist Workers‘ Party (PSOE), the mainstream Social Democratic party, backs negotiation. Lead candidate Miquel Iceta has repeatedly called on the separatists to show restraint. In line with PSOE policy, the PSC has backed the use of Article 155 by the Madrid government.