© Albert Gea / Reuters
People hold Catalan separatist flags known as "Esteladas" during a gathering to mark the Calatalonia day "Diada" in central Barcelona.
Catalonia says it is preparing to seek independence with or without Madrid's backing. The region's government says it would prefer to conduct cordial negotiations about a split, but that the lack of response from the Spanish capital is forcing its hand.
On Wednesday, the Catalan parliament supported the conclusions of a commission created to study the process of the region's secession from Spain,
El Mundo reports. Among other things, the document stipulates a national referendum that is to decide the fate of Catalonia.
Those protesting against the vote included three members of the Parliament's Bureau, the governing body of the Catalan legislature, José María Espejo (Ciutadans), David Perez (PSC), and Joan Josep Nuet (CQP).
The vote, which goes against a recent constitutional court ruling, has been branded a
"real blow to democracy" by the opposition groups.
Speaking exclusively to the
Guardian, the president of Catalonia's parliament, Carme Forcadell, and foreign affairs minister Raul Romeva said the stance taken by Madrid has left the region with no other choice.
"The [Spanish state] has left us feeling that we just don't have an alternative," Romeva told the Guardian. "We have always said that we would have preferred a Scottish-type scenario, where we could negotiate with the state and hold a coordinated and democratic referendum. We keep talking to Madrid, but all we get back from them is an echo."
Comment: Nothing to see here, no human rights violation. Sheesh.