Results are in on the long-anticipated Catalonia referendum, and secession won in a big way, with over 2 million voters, and 90% of those who voted, supporting secession from Spain and the establishment of an independent Catalan state.
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont says that Catalonia has earned its independence today, facing down a violent crackdown by Spanish national police, and said he intends to make a direct appeal to the European Union as soon as possible to complain about human rights violations by Spanish forces.
Spanish police were out in force from early morning through the end of the referendum, smashing voting booths and attacking voters. When firemen showed up to try to keep the police away from crowds of voters, the police attacked them too.
Over 844 people were reported injured in the raids, along with 33 police. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy insisted Spanish police were forced to act and that the referendum was a “mockery” of a real vote.
The overwhelming “yes” vote likely reflects both anger at weeks of violent crackdowns by the Spanish, and opponents of the secession being unwilling to risk a beat-down to cast their ballots.
The turnout was still impressive, in excess of 40% of the eligible voters. This was a bit lower than was expected, but with at least 92 polling stations destroyed by riot police, it’s unsurprising that some were simply not able to keep going from station to station to try to vote.
Spain has ruled out allowing Catalonia to secede, and the violent police action was meant to preclude a vote taking place. Rajoy insisted Spanish rule of law remained in place, and no referendum took place at all.
Though most countries expressed opposition to Catalan secession, and secession in general, considerable outrage about Spain’s behavior today may change that, and a general strike is planned within Catalonia on Tuesday to reiterate their plans to break off from Spanish rule.
Wow, I get 1st comment… Viva Catalonia Libre..
All of this is a result of feckless and stupid globalist policy led by Spain, in spite of repeated attempts by the people of Spain to change it by voting. With high youth unemployment, lower income and loss of hope — the outcome is predictable. Those that have something to rally around — I trying to escape. It is a high risk, even if there is no opposition from Spain. Creating a viable economy today is possible only by getting investments from BRI initiative, and other Eurasian infrastructure, industrial and service projects. Otherwise, Europe has no money to spare from their iwn national needs. Greece and irs debt problem is still here, Italian financial problems cannot be this easily papered over. Europe needs to get involved in Eurasean economies — the space between Russia, Turkey and Iran on one end, and China, India, Indonesia, Phillipines and Tailand on the other. Russia’s far east is attracting Japanese and Korean investmments. Europe is being mesmerized by neocon Russia obsession -/ hoping it goes away. Europe can unite or divide, add or substract — but its economic and political model has been exhausted, and needs strategy and drive to pull it out of the rut. Unfortunatelly, Europe is choke full of globalist minded royals, who cannot see beyond their uppity nose.
Catalonia should reach out to Kurdistan. They’re both going through the same sh*t right now and there’s strength in numbers.
Another secession could be in the works: Gibraltar. The residents of Gibraltar want to remain in the EU. If Brexit fails to bring this about the rock may leave Britain.