Catalan Referendum

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On 2nd of October 2017 Carles Puigdemont declared that the Spanish region has won the right to statehood following a contentious referendum that was marred by violence.

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Spain's government has warned it could suspend Catalan autonomy.

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The constitutional court banned the vote and almost 900 people were hurt as police tried to stop it going ahead. Officers from the national police and paramilitary Civil Guard seized ballot papers and boxes at polling stations. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Catalans had been fooled into taking part in an illegal vote.

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More than 2.2 million people were reported to have voted with just under 90% backing independence.

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Many elderly and physically challenged Catalans stood in line for hours to be able to cast their ballots.