BREAKING: Catalonia Declares Independence

[Helsinkian]

Spain subverting democracy. Who woulda thunk it?

If Western Australia announced that it was going to hold a referendum to decide secession from Australia, would the Australian government be fine with that?

[Helsinkian]

So, do you think the referendum will actually take place on 1 October or not?

[Helsinkian]

Rubber projectiles fired by police at protestors. Police closing voting sites, seizing ballots.

[Helsinkian]

Couldn't the Generalitat have organized this referendum simultaneously with the next Catalan regional election? In that case it would have been more difficult for Madrid to physically stop the voting from taking place.

[Helsinkian]

It seems that around 70 percent of polling stations are still open, Catalan government says.

[Helsinkian]

Official provisional results of the referendum:

Yes 2,020,144(90 %)
No 176,566(7,8 %)
Turnout: 2,262,464 (using the 2015 regional election as a benchmark, 41% turnout)

Some votes still to be counted, like 50 000 or so.

If you take into account the ballots seized by the police, does the turnout rise to 50 percent?

[Helsinkian]

So, which flag would independent Catalonia use?

[Helsinkian]

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/09/catalonia-independence-declaration-would-not-be-recognised-says-france

Which European countries would recognize Catalonia's independence? I guess Kosovo might recognize it. And who knows, perhaps Russia would recognize it too, just because Putin wants to create divisions within Western Europe?

Outside of Europe, I suppose the Catalan government could get the recognition from some developing countries in return for aid of some sort... If they can afford it, with their credit rating going down the tubes.

[Helsinkian]

Finish MP supporting a motion to recognize independent Catalonia https://twitter.com/KarnaMikko/status/923904022171578368

His views shouldn't be mistaken for those of the government, though. As always in EU politics, the Finnish government will follow Germany's lead.

[Helsinkian]

Looks like not even Andorra is recognizing Catalonia: https://twitter.com/GovernAndorra/status/923977972155109376

[Helsinkian]

Apparently the CUP is going to boycott the December election:

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/29/catalonia-independence-madrid-elections-rajoy

[Helsinkian]

How about, as a compromise, a Principality of Catalonia in personal union with the Kingdom of Spain? They would share the monarch, the military and foreign policy but otherwise Catalonia would be independent. Would that be acceptable to either of the sides?

[Helsinkian]

LOL, looks like Puigdemont fled to Belgium.