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| Catalans Vote in Straw Poll on Independence From Spain | Catalans Vote in Straw Poll on Independence From Spain |
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| BARCELONA — Defying legal and political objections from Madrid, more than one million Catalans took part on Sunday in a straw poll on independence that the region’s politicians have presented as a prelude to breaking away from the rest of Spain. | BARCELONA — Defying legal and political objections from Madrid, more than one million Catalans took part on Sunday in a straw poll on independence that the region’s politicians have presented as a prelude to breaking away from the rest of Spain. |
| By 1 p.m., just over 1.14 million citizens had voted, according to preliminary estimates of the turnout released by the regional government of Catalonia. Polling stations close at 8 p.m. | |
| Even after being ordered last week by the Constitutional Court of Spain to suspend the vote, the regional government of Catalonia has allowed the straw poll. It has insisted that such a court ban could not override the right of Catalonia’s 7.5 million citizens, who include 5.4 million voters, to decide whether to secede from the rest of Spain. | Even after being ordered last week by the Constitutional Court of Spain to suspend the vote, the regional government of Catalonia has allowed the straw poll. It has insisted that such a court ban could not override the right of Catalonia’s 7.5 million citizens, who include 5.4 million voters, to decide whether to secede from the rest of Spain. |
| The Catalan secessionist standoff comes after Scotland voted in September not to break away from Britain. That referendum, however, was authorized by the British government in London. The fight over Catalonia’s future is proving far more contentious and has turned into the biggest political challenge for Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister, since he took office in late 2011. | The Catalan secessionist standoff comes after Scotland voted in September not to break away from Britain. That referendum, however, was authorized by the British government in London. The fight over Catalonia’s future is proving far more contentious and has turned into the biggest political challenge for Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister, since he took office in late 2011. |
| Mr. Rajoy and Artur Mas, the Catalan regional leader, have been at loggerheads for two years. Tensions came to the fore in September when Mr. Mas, who is a late but staunch convert to the secessionist cause, signed a decree approving an independence vote on Nov. 9. | Mr. Rajoy and Artur Mas, the Catalan regional leader, have been at loggerheads for two years. Tensions came to the fore in September when Mr. Mas, who is a late but staunch convert to the secessionist cause, signed a decree approving an independence vote on Nov. 9. |
| Mr. Rajoy fought to prevent a Catalan vote that he claimed would violate Spain’s Constitution. He told a party conference on Saturday that the Catalan vote had no validity and would have “no effect whatsoever.” | Mr. Rajoy fought to prevent a Catalan vote that he claimed would violate Spain’s Constitution. He told a party conference on Saturday that the Catalan vote had no validity and would have “no effect whatsoever.” |
| Still, Catalans formed lines outside some polling stations early Sunday. After casting his own vote, Mr. Mas said that he took full responsibility for any possible breach of Spanish law. He also called on Mr. Rajoy to allow Catalonia to hold a formal referendum soon “to be able to decide the future of our country in a legal and agreed manner.” | Still, Catalans formed lines outside some polling stations early Sunday. After casting his own vote, Mr. Mas said that he took full responsibility for any possible breach of Spanish law. He also called on Mr. Rajoy to allow Catalonia to hold a formal referendum soon “to be able to decide the future of our country in a legal and agreed manner.” |
| Mr. Mas has been under pressure from other secessionist politicians to keep Catalonia’s independence plans on track. But he also says that his position has been made untenable by Mr. Rajoy’s refusal to discuss the status of Catalonia. | Mr. Mas has been under pressure from other secessionist politicians to keep Catalonia’s independence plans on track. But he also says that his position has been made untenable by Mr. Rajoy’s refusal to discuss the status of Catalonia. |
| Mr. Mas has been trying to lead Catalonia toward independence without being held responsible for provoking a crisis in Spain. | Mr. Mas has been trying to lead Catalonia toward independence without being held responsible for provoking a crisis in Spain. |
| In recent weeks, however, the Constitutional Court has repeatedly sided with Mr. Rajoy’s government, forcing Mr. Mas to adjust his plans in order to circumvent both legal and political objections from Madrid. | In recent weeks, however, the Constitutional Court has repeatedly sided with Mr. Rajoy’s government, forcing Mr. Mas to adjust his plans in order to circumvent both legal and political objections from Madrid. |
| As a result, the straw poll was organized without any official census of the electorate. In fact, to avoid any institutional involvement, Mr. Mas relied on about 40,000 volunteers from citizens’ groups to take charge of the ballot, led by the Catalan National Assembly, a private group that started organizing mass pro-independence street demonstrations in 2012. The result is thus unlikely to receive the international recognition that Mr. Mas had originally hoped for. | As a result, the straw poll was organized without any official census of the electorate. In fact, to avoid any institutional involvement, Mr. Mas relied on about 40,000 volunteers from citizens’ groups to take charge of the ballot, led by the Catalan National Assembly, a private group that started organizing mass pro-independence street demonstrations in 2012. The result is thus unlikely to receive the international recognition that Mr. Mas had originally hoped for. |
| Maria Pilar Lahoz, a history professor who voted Sunday in the Gràcia neighborhood of Barcelona, said that her vote had “full validity for me, even if Madrid doesn’t believe it.” She forecast that Catalonia would gain independence within the coming decade. “It’s still going to be a long struggle, but it’s unstoppable and the door has now at least been opened,” she said. | Maria Pilar Lahoz, a history professor who voted Sunday in the Gràcia neighborhood of Barcelona, said that her vote had “full validity for me, even if Madrid doesn’t believe it.” She forecast that Catalonia would gain independence within the coming decade. “It’s still going to be a long struggle, but it’s unstoppable and the door has now at least been opened,” she said. |
| In late 2012, when Catalonia last held regional elections, secessionist parties secured about 1.8 million votes out of 3.7 million cast. Comparisons are difficult to make, given the informal nature of the straw poll. Catalans aged 16 and over were allowed to take part, while in 2012, only those 18 and older could vote. The straw poll was also open to foreign residents of Catalonia, as well as to Catalans living outside the region. | In late 2012, when Catalonia last held regional elections, secessionist parties secured about 1.8 million votes out of 3.7 million cast. Comparisons are difficult to make, given the informal nature of the straw poll. Catalans aged 16 and over were allowed to take part, while in 2012, only those 18 and older could vote. The straw poll was also open to foreign residents of Catalonia, as well as to Catalans living outside the region. |
| In Hong Kong, for instance, Coral Puig, who has lived outside of Catalonia for the past four years, volunteered to help organize a local vote for Catalans. “I want to be legally recognized as a Catalan citizen worldwide,” she said. “I am not Spanish, and we have been waiting for centuries to get back our identity.” | In Hong Kong, for instance, Coral Puig, who has lived outside of Catalonia for the past four years, volunteered to help organize a local vote for Catalans. “I want to be legally recognized as a Catalan citizen worldwide,” she said. “I am not Spanish, and we have been waiting for centuries to get back our identity.” |