Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/li...onia-vote-live
Reuters:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-sp...-idUSKCN1C60YA
Quote:
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Spanish riot police burst into polling stations across Catalonia on Sunday, confiscating ballot boxes and voting papers to try to halt a banned referendum on a split from Spain as Madrid asserted its authority over the rebel region.
Police broke down doors to force entry into voting stations as defiant Catalans shouted “Out with the occupying forces!” and sang the anthem of the wealthy northeastern region. In one incident in Barcelona, police fired rubber projectiles.
Catalan officials said 337 people had been injured in the police crackdown. Officers in riot gear hit people with batons and forcibly removed would-be voters, including women and the elderly, from polling stations.
The referendum, declared illegal by Spain’s central government, has thrown the country into its worst constitutional crisis in decades and deepened a centuries-old rift between Madrid and Barcelona.
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Previously: (Independent)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-a7956581.html
This was Sep 20th.
Quote:
Spanish national police have stormed ministries and buildings belonging to Catalonia's regional government to put a stop to the region's independence referendum.
The Guardia Civil, which acts with the authority of Madrid's interior ministry, is searching for evidence regarding the planned 1 October referendum on Catalan independence, which Spain's Constitutional Court has declared illegal.
In the early hours of the morning armed officers arrived at various Catalan ministries, including the economy department, foreign affairs department, and social affairs department, Spanish media reports.
Catalonia to hold referendum on independence from Spain in October
At least twelve Catalan officials are said to have been arrested, including the chief aide to Catalonia's deputy prime minister, Josep Maria Jové. The arrests come as the mayors of Catalan towns who back the referendum were yesterday questioned by state prosecutors.
Pro-independence crowds have formed outside the regional ministries in support of the provincial government and in protest against the raids and searches.
Speaking at lunchtime Carles Puigdemont, the president of the Catalonian government, said the Spanish government had “de facto suspended” home rule in the province.
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And because it's 2017, Russians are suspected to be involved in creating this mess. You can google that yourself.
The whole backstory is long and complicated. This is a huge story worth following, as it will have ramifications in European politics far into the future. However, in the modern media landscape it's better to be cautious in believing any one version of why this is "actually" happening. There's a lot of local, national and international politics at play here.
I would however say this:
I think Catalonia will serve as a wake up and a reminder to many that even "free democracies" really, really don't like separatism. Or in other words: nationalism and democracy are two values that don't always mix nicely.