Spanish government is the “shame of Europe,” says Catalan government spokesperson
Jordi Turull estimates turnout to be in the millions and urges citizens to go out and vote
Politics news from Catalonia and Barcelona
Jordi Turull estimates turnout to be in the millions and urges citizens to go out and vote
International politicians criticize police aggressions against Catalan citizens trying to vote, calling on the Spanish government to end the violence
Violent reaction by security forces not enough to dissuade voters from turning out in large numbers at polling stations
Actions were “proportional” for a referendum that was “not celebrated,” according to Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría
Security forces use baton charges and rubber bullets against voters in a “criminal” repression the Catalan executive plans to refer to EU courts
Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau urges Spanish president Mariano Rajoy to resign
Amidst images of violence, Catalans are still voting – including Catalan president, vice president, and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Riot agents challenging people in several locations, including the voting station where Catalan President was expected to vote
Officers certify that emptying polling stations is impossible
Government allows voting without envelopes as Spanish police had confiscated most of them and says secrecy is guaranteed by opaque ballot boxes
People started arriving at 5am to make sure voting stations were not sealed off by police
A timeline on the main causes of the current situation
Thousands stay overnight at polling stations to guarantee that they are not sealed off by police
Citizens occupy schools to prevent them from being sealed off ahead of Sunday’s referendum on independence
Leaders and members of five different parties ask for a “politically negotiated solution” in Catalonia
Latest updates and breaking news on politics and political affairs from Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and Europe. Keep up to date with the territorial crisis and Catalonia’s independence push, stories from the Catalan government and parliament, latest developments in the Spanish government, and the decisions in Europe that affect our shores too.