A secession drive in Spain's northeastern Catalonia is in limbo after a far-left party could not decide whether Artur Mas should lead the regional parliament and set the region bordering France on a path toward independence by 2017, the Associated Press reports.

Mas heads the "Together for Yes" alliance that won 62 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament last September.

The Popular Unity Candidacy won 10 seats and Mas needs its support to win the leadership spot and form a pro-secession parliament.

Members of the CUP voted 1,515-1,515 on the proposal for Mas to head a separatist coalition.

CUP party leaders will meet Jan. 2 to try to break the deadlock.

New elections must be called for Catalonia if no leadership deal is reached by Jan. 10.