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| Catalan parliament declares independence, Spanish PM vows to restore rule of law (WATCH LIVE) | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Following a secret ballot, separatist lawmakers in Catalonia have passed a motion to declare independence from Spain. Opposition members boycotted the vote. | Following a secret ballot, separatist lawmakers in Catalonia have passed a motion to declare independence from Spain. Opposition members boycotted the vote. |
| The independence motion was passed with 70 votes in favor, 10 against, and two blank ballots, the assembly's speaker announced, according to Reuters. The vote led to a celebration among thousands of independence supporters cheering in the streets in Barcelona, the region's capital. | |
| Lawmakers from the Socialist Party, the People's Party (PP), and Ciudadanos left the chamber in protest ahead of the vote. The European Commission has declined to comment following the vote, according to Reuters. | Lawmakers from the Socialist Party, the People's Party (PP), and Ciudadanos left the chamber in protest ahead of the vote. The European Commission has declined to comment following the vote, according to Reuters. |
| Before the secret ballot, the Catalonian regional parliament also voted in favor of starting the “constituent process” to split from Madrid. | |
| Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has urged for calm, stating that the rule of law will be restored in Catalonia. “I ask for calm from all Spaniards. The rule of law will restore legality in Catalonia,” Rajoy tweeted. | |
| Shortly after the Catalan vote, the upper house of Spain's parliament approved direct rule by Madrid. | |
| Rajoy is now expected to convene his cabinet to adopt the first measures of governing Catalonia. Such moves could include sacking Barcelona's government and assuming direct supervision of Catalan police forces. | |
| European Council President Donald Tusk has urged both sides to opt for dialogue rather than violence, adding that Brussels will continue to only speak to Spain's central government. | |
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