Catalonia leader shifts tack on independence vote Catalonia's president Artur Mas says a snap election could be held to let the Spanish region vote on independence, watering down plans for a referendum under pressure from authorities in Madrid. His new proposal -- seen as backtracking by many independence-minded politicians in the region -- leaves Mas at odds with political allies, including the pro-independence Catalan Republican Left (ERC), which props up Mas's minority government. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES of ERC leader's press conference