SPAIN and the European Union is in CRISIS MODE after voters in Catalonia, a regional district of Spain – VOTED to leave the Kingdom of Spain by 90% following a day of brutal crackdowns by the Spanish government who even sent police to close polls and steal ballot boxes.
Spanish police used batons and rubber bullets to disrupt the illegal referendum, which was declared unconstitutional by Spain’s government in Madrid, the Catalan government said 2.26 million people had cast ballots, a turnout of about 42 percent.
CHAOS: SEE THE PICTURES FROM CATALONIA
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has ruled out independence and accused separatists of trying to “blackmail … the whole nation”.
Catalan officials say more than 800 people were injured in clashes with Spanish riot police during the referendum, which has pitched the country into its deepest constitutional crisis in decades and deepened a rift between Madrid and Barcelona.
“On this day of hope and suffering, Catalonia’s citizens have earned the right to have an independent state in the form of a republic”
Catalonia’s regional leader added: “My government, in the next few days will send the results of today’s 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.”
The law of the referendum, deemed unconstitutional by Madrid, foresees a unilateral declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament if the majority votes to leave Spain. The law does not set a minimum turnout for the outcome to be valid.
The results announced early on Monday were not a surprise, given that many unionists were not expected to turn out to vote.