Puigdemont celebrates as Catalan separatists win election

Catalan separatists have won a landmark election with nearly all votes counted, separatist parties have won a slim majority in the Catalan parliament.

As soon as the results began pouring in pro-independence supporters came out on the streets in Barcelona chanting "President Puigdemont".

"Either Rajoy changes his recipe or we change the country," Puigdemontsaid in a televised speech.

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EU countries Germany and France, have backed prime minister Rajoy's stance despite criticism.

The elections which had seen a record 99.6 per cent turnout was being seen as a virtual referendum on Catalonia's future within Spain.

Puigdemont's spokesman told Reuters in a text message: "We are the comeback kids."

However, unless three pro-independence lists fail to clinch a deal to work together in the coming months, they will rule Catalonia with 70 of the 135 seats in parliament -- two less than their previous tally of 72.

"This is a result which no one can dispute," Carles Puigdemont said from self-imposed exile in Belgium.