Madrid ( CNN ) -- Before Sunday 's elections in Catalonia , Artur Mas , president of the region 's parliament , promised a referendum on independence for one of Spain 's most important regions if he won re-election . But after the election , Mas has a more difficult task because his center-right Convergence and Union coalition lost 12 of its 62 seats , a strong setback for a party that was hoping to gain a simple majority in the 135-seat legislative body . The Catalan Republican Left party was the big winner in the elections , winning 21 seats , according to the Catalonia elections web site , which reported 98 % of the votes had been counted . The Catalan Republican Left party also backs independence , and the two parties could form a majority in parliament on the independence issue . They , however , differ on most other issues , especially economic policy . Voters in Catalonia , the most powerful economically of Spain 's 17 regions , heeded the call that these would be historic elections , even if independence was n't on the ballot Sunday . They voted during a deep economic crisis in the eurozone countries , especially in Spain and in Catalonia . Voter turnout was the highest in 24 years for Catalan elections , officials said . The Spanish government in Madrid vows to block any self-determination referendum , arguing that the constitution does not permit a region alone to decide its independence . Last September 11 , an estimated 1.5 million people -- 20 % of Catalonia 's population -- filled the streets of Barcelona , the Catalan capital and Spain 's second-largest city , demanding independence . Soon after , Mas called snap regional elections , two years early . His government already has enacted deep spending cuts trying to balance the regional books and has asked Madrid for $ 6 billion in emergency credit to pay its bills . `` The crisis has made many people in Catalonia desperate , '' said Gonzalo Bernardos , a University of Barcelona economist . `` They see a dark future . Then hope springs , that with Catalan independence , things will be better . '' Catalonia has its own flag and language -- Catalan -- and various analysts say the economic crisis has brought long-simmering nationalist sentiment to the forefront . Catalans complain of cultural repression and economic sleights by Madrid dating back centuries . With just 16 % of Spain 's population , Catalonia produces 19 % of the nation 's wealth . Catalonia argues that it sends far more in taxes to Madrid than it gets back in central government spending , and that Catalan taxes help support poorer Spanish regions . The regions administer key public services such as health and education , and in Catalonia 's case , also the police and prisons . In addition to Mas ' party , three other major parties will be closely watched as potential power brokers in the new parliament . The Catalan Republican Left doubled its bloc , as it held just 10 seats before the election . The Catalan branches of Spain 's ruling conservative Popular Party -- which opposes independence -- gained one seat , for a total 19 in the new parliament . The main opposition Spanish Socialist Party , which urges a federalist system for the regions , will be the biggest loser , dropping eight seats to 20 representatives . A survey earlier this month by the Catalan government 's polling center showed 57 % of Catalans would vote for independence , a 6 % increase from last June and a 14 % increase from a year and a half ago .
Ruling party had hoped to win enough seats for simple majority . Another party that supports independence makes big gains . More than a million Catalans demonstrated for independence in September . Catalans complain of cultural repression and economic slights dating to centuries .