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Catalonia referendum: region holds emergency meeting after tumultuous poll Catalonia referendum: region holds emergency meeting after tumultuous poll
(35 minutes later)
The Catalan regional government is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the next steps towards declaring independence from Spain a day after millions of Catalans voted in a tumultuous poll that left more than 800 people injured. The Catalan regional government is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the next steps towards declaring independence from Spain, a day after millions of Catalans voted in a tumultuous poll that left more than 800 people injured.
Preliminary results from Sunday’s vote showed that 90% of people cast their ballots in favour of independence, according to the Catalan government.Preliminary results from Sunday’s vote showed that 90% of people cast their ballots in favour of independence, according to the Catalan government.
At least 844 people and 33 police were reported to have been hurt on Sunday after riot police stormed polling stations in a last-minute effort to stop the vote.At least 844 people and 33 police were reported to have been hurt on Sunday after riot police stormed polling stations in a last-minute effort to stop the vote.
A spokesman said that 2.26 million Catalans – 43% of the region’s 5.3 million eligible voters – had taken part in the referendum, which was staged in defiance of the Spanish government, the country’s constitutional court and the Catalan high court. The Catalan government had not set a threshold for minimum turnout in the election, arguing the vote would be binding regardless of the level of participation. A spokesman said 2.26 million Catalans – 43% of the region’s 5.3 million eligible voters – had taken part in the referendum, which was staged in defiance of the Spanish government, the country’s constitutional court and the Catalan high court. The Catalan government had not set a threshold for minimum turnout in the election, arguing the vote would be binding regardless of the level of participation.
The regional president, Carles Puigdemont, has vowed to declare unilateral independence from Spain within 48 hours of a victory for the yes campaign. Speaking on Sunday night, Puidgemont said it had been a day of hope and suffering that had shown Catalonia had earned the right to independence.The regional president, Carles Puigdemont, has vowed to declare unilateral independence from Spain within 48 hours of a victory for the yes campaign. Speaking on Sunday night, Puidgemont said it had been a day of hope and suffering that had shown Catalonia had earned the right to independence.
He said: “My government, in the next few days, will send the results of [the] vote to the Catalan parliament, where the sovereignty of our people lies, so that it can act in accordance with the law of the referendum.”He said: “My government, in the next few days, will send the results of [the] vote to the Catalan parliament, where the sovereignty of our people lies, so that it can act in accordance with the law of the referendum.”
Rafael Nadal Spain’s number one tennis player said on Monday he was stunned and felt like crying following the vote. The European commission said on Monday that the independence referendum in Catalonia was “not legal” but also called on the Spanish government to open dialogue, saying violence could not be an instrument in politics.
Nadal, a national hero in Spain who spoke out before the referendum to condemn it, was visibly moved as he addressed a press conference in Beijing ahead of the start of the Chinese Open on Tuesday. “Under the Spanish constitution, yesterday’s vote in Catalonia was not legal,” the EU executive’s chief spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, told a regular news briefing. “This is an internal matter for Spain that has to be dealt with by the constitutional order in Spain,” he said.
“I want to cry when I see a country where we have known how to co-exist and be a good example to the rest of the world get to a situation like this,” he said. “I think the image we have presented to the world is negative.” The Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal said on Monday he felt like crying following the vote. Nadal, a national hero in Spain who spoke out before the referendum to condemn it, was visibly moved as he addressed a press conference in Beijing ahead of the start of the Chinese Open.
“I have spent many parts of my life in Catalonia, important moments, and to see society so radicalised surprises and disheartens me.” “I want to cry when I see a country where we have known how to co-exist and be a good example to the rest of the world get to a situation like this,” he said. “I think the image we have presented to the world is negative. I have spent many parts of my life in Catalonia, important moments, and to see society so radicalised surprises and disheartens me.”
In a symbolic referendum held in Catalonia three years ago, 80% of voters backed independence, with 2.3 million of the region’s 5.4 million eligible voters taking part.In a symbolic referendum held in Catalonia three years ago, 80% of voters backed independence, with 2.3 million of the region’s 5.4 million eligible voters taking part.
Although millions of Catalans managed to cast their ballots on Sunday, others were forcibly stopped from voting as schools housing ballot boxes were raided by police acting on the orders of the Catalan high court. The Spanish government defended its response and said that the police had been acting to defend the constitution and Spanish democracy. Although millions of Catalans managed to cast their ballots on Sunday, others were forcibly stopped from voting as schools housing ballot boxes were raided by police acting on the orders of the Catalan high court. The Spanish government defended its response and said the police had been acting to defend the constitution and Spanish democracy.
The prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, thanked the police for acting with “firmness and serenity” as they attempted to halt the poll. “Today there has not been a self-determination referendum in Catalonia,” he said on Sunday night. “The rule of law remains in force with all its strength. We are the government of Spain and I am the head of the government of Spain and I accepted my responsibility.The prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, thanked the police for acting with “firmness and serenity” as they attempted to halt the poll. “Today there has not been a self-determination referendum in Catalonia,” he said on Sunday night. “The rule of law remains in force with all its strength. We are the government of Spain and I am the head of the government of Spain and I accepted my responsibility.
“We have done what was required of us. We have acted, as I have said from the beginning, according to the law and only according to the law. And we have shown that our democratic state has the resources to defend itself from an attack as serious as the one that was perpetrated with this illegal referendum. Today, democracy has prevailed because we have obeyed the constitution.”“We have done what was required of us. We have acted, as I have said from the beginning, according to the law and only according to the law. And we have shown that our democratic state has the resources to defend itself from an attack as serious as the one that was perpetrated with this illegal referendum. Today, democracy has prevailed because we have obeyed the constitution.”
Rajoy is due to meet the leaders of Spanish opposition parties later on Monday and to hold a parliamentary session to discuss events in Catalonia.Rajoy is due to meet the leaders of Spanish opposition parties later on Monday and to hold a parliamentary session to discuss events in Catalonia.
The actions of the Spanish authorities were immediately criticised by Catalan politicians. Ada Colau, the mayor of Barcelona, demanded an end to the police actions and called for Rajoy’s resignation. The actions of the Spanish authorities were immediately criticised by Catalan politicians. Ada Colau, the mayor of Barcelona, demanded an end to police operations and called for Rajoy’s resignation.
Artur Mas, the former Catalan president whose government staged the symbolic referendum in 2014, also called for the “authoritarian” Rajoy to stand down, adding that Catalonia could not remain alongside “a state that uses batons and police brutality”.Artur Mas, the former Catalan president whose government staged the symbolic referendum in 2014, also called for the “authoritarian” Rajoy to stand down, adding that Catalonia could not remain alongside “a state that uses batons and police brutality”.
Sunday’s violence came less than 24 hours after the Spanish government had appeared confident that enough had been done to thwart the vote.Sunday’s violence came less than 24 hours after the Spanish government had appeared confident that enough had been done to thwart the vote.
On Saturday, Enric Millo, the most senior Spanish government official in the region, said police had sealed off 1,300 of the region’s 2,315 polling stations. Guardia Civil officers acting on a judge’s orders also searched the headquarters of the Catalan technology and communications centre, disabling the software connecting polling stations and shutting down online voting applications.On Saturday, Enric Millo, the most senior Spanish government official in the region, said police had sealed off 1,300 of the region’s 2,315 polling stations. Guardia Civil officers acting on a judge’s orders also searched the headquarters of the Catalan technology and communications centre, disabling the software connecting polling stations and shutting down online voting applications.
“These last-minute operations have allowed us to very definitively break up any possibility of the Catalan government delivering what it promised: a binding, effective referendum with legal guarantees,” he said.“These last-minute operations have allowed us to very definitively break up any possibility of the Catalan government delivering what it promised: a binding, effective referendum with legal guarantees,” he said.