The Catalan parliament on Friday approved a motion to secede from Spain and establish an independent state.
In a secret ballot, a majority of lawmakers voted in favor of the motion to “establish a Catalan Republic as an independent and sovereign state of democratic and social law.”
The Parliament of Catalonia constitutes the Catalan Republic, as an independent, sovereign, democratic, social State under the rule of law pic.twitter.com/RW5xck7PYN
— Catalan Government (@catalangov) October 27, 2017
The proposal was put forward earlier in the day by the majority Junts pel Si (“Together for Yes”) and Candidatura d’Unilat Popular (Popular Unity Candidacy) coalition. Both parties favor independence from Spain.
The proposal passed with 70 in favor, 10 opposed and 2 blank ballots. Opposition MPs left parliament before the vote.
#EnDirecto ▶ Junqueras y Puigdemont votan sonriendo a las cámaras. https://t.co/oo5LF3QIJ9 pic.twitter.com/NaDtaGKb3W
— EL MUNDO (@elmundoes) October 27, 2017
On October 1, the semi-autonomous region held an independence referendum over the objections of the central Spanish government. The Catalan government said 90 percent of 2.3 million votes cast were in favor of leaving Spain, but President Carles Puigdemont suspended the independence declaration only moments after declaring it on October 10.
Mr. Puigdemont said on Thursday that he would allow parliament to determine whether the region breaks off from Spain.
Separately, the Spanish Senate approved a proposal by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to take over administration of the Catalan region, voting 214-47 to invoke Article 155 of the constitution.
Article 155 of the Spanish constitution allows the central government to suspend home rule in the autonomous regions if one were “to act in a manner that gravely attacked the general interest of Spain” or otherwise not “fulfill the duties imposed upon it” by the constitution. It gives Mr. Rajoy has the authority to remove Mr. Puigdemont from office, take over the regional police and dissolve parliament.
Catalonia Riddled With Tension, Uncertainty Amid Independence Turmoil
