The result will put Catalonia on a collision course with Madrid, which stripped the region of its autonomy in October.
So far more than 95 per cent of the votes have been counted, and the largest group – the pro-unity Citizens party – has won 36 seats.
However pro-independence parties Together for Catalonia, Republican Left of Catalonia and Popular Unity are set to win 70 seats between them, giving them a large majority.
An aide to Mr Puigdemont sent a Whatsapp message to journalists as news of the results broke saying: “As you see, we are the comeback kids.”
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