Eight in 10 voters say 'yes' to independence in Catalunya
Tuesday, November 11, 2014 @ 12:55 PM
OF THE 2.2 million residents in Catalunya who voted yesterday (Sunday), 80% want the region to become independent, figures released today show.
Only 37.7% of residents of all nationalities aged 16 and over cast their ballots, compared to 47.63% in the European elections which did not include anyone under 18 or from outside the EU, and to the previous regional elections when 69.56% of Spanish citizens aged 18 and over voted.
But with the consultation being considered 'unofficial' and doubts over whether it was legal - given that there was no electoral census as the central government had blocked plans to run 'proper' polls - many decided not to bother, some on principle and some because they were afraid of disturbances and confrontations with the 450 riot police officers on duty.
Yet with 2.2 million out of 5.4 million registered residents turning out to vote, regional president Artur Mas called the day 'a success'.
He says the fact that over 1,806,000 had voted in favour of independence was a clear sign that the central government should allow a full referendum.
Unlike in Scotland, where a referendum did indeed go ahead amid campaigns declaring the United Kingdom was 'better together' and the majority voted to stay put, president Mariano Rajoy's refusal to even address the matter and his attempts to prevent a non-binding public opinion poll have left a sour taste in the mouths of many people in Catalunya, meaning the consultation yesterday was seen as a protest by a number of them.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com