Spain's parliament opens with Catalan separatists in focus

Spain's parliament reconvenes on Thursday after an inconclusive July general election, with all eyes on hardline Catalan separatist party JxCat which unexpectedly emerged as kingmaker. 

Neither the left nor the right won the 176 seats needed to have a working majority in the July 23 general election -- each side won only 171.

That is what has put JxCat in such an influential position, for how its seven lawmakers vote, both on Thursday and in the investiture vote that follows, could be decisive.