Majority of Catalonians want independence
Updated 10 Nov 2014 @ 09:36
An informal vote on independence for Catalonia over the weekend has shown more than 80% of its participants are in favour.
The provisional results followed a day of voting across the autonomous region, which includes Barcelona, in north-eastern Spain.
The non-binding vote went ahead after Spain's constitutional court ruled out a formal referendum.
Voters were asked two questions: whether they wanted Catalonia to be a state and whether they wanted that state to be independent. More than two million people took part in the vote and with almost all votes counted, 80.72% have answered yes to both questions.
Opinion polls suggest that as many as 80% of Catalans want an official referendum on the issue of Catalonia's status, with about 50% in favour of full independence.
The ballot was held in the face of fierce opposition from the Spanish government.
Additionally, the Libres e Iguales (Free and Equal) group, which opposes the vote, held protests in dozens of cities. One protest in Barcelona witnessed minor scuffles but no arrests.
Other rallies in favour of the vote were also held.
Travellers are advised to avoid all public demonstrations.
The provisional results followed a day of voting across the autonomous region, which includes Barcelona, in north-eastern Spain.
The non-binding vote went ahead after Spain's constitutional court ruled out a formal referendum.
Voters were asked two questions: whether they wanted Catalonia to be a state and whether they wanted that state to be independent. More than two million people took part in the vote and with almost all votes counted, 80.72% have answered yes to both questions.
Opinion polls suggest that as many as 80% of Catalans want an official referendum on the issue of Catalonia's status, with about 50% in favour of full independence.
The ballot was held in the face of fierce opposition from the Spanish government.
Additionally, the Libres e Iguales (Free and Equal) group, which opposes the vote, held protests in dozens of cities. One protest in Barcelona witnessed minor scuffles but no arrests.
Other rallies in favour of the vote were also held.
Travellers are advised to avoid all public demonstrations.
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