Spain in CRISIS: Troops sent in as 40,000 protest over ‘WAR’ on Catalan independence vote
MORE than 40,000 people have gathered in Barcelona to protest over the Catalan independence vote as the Spanish Government sends in troops to deal with the activists.
By LAURA MOWAT
Express.co.uk
Thu, Sep 21, 2017
The protesters in Barcelona and Catalonia are angry at the crackdown on a separatist-led referendum on independence for the region, which is due to be held on October 1.
Many of the angry protesters have been waving Catalonia’s red and yellow flag while chanting “We will vote” and “Hello Democracy!”
The protests were sparked when the Spanish military police, the Guardia Civil, raided Catalan government offices on Wednesday and arrested dozens of officials.
Acting on a judge’s orders, police also raided newspaper offices in a bid to find campaign literature for the referendum.
The Madrid Government is thought to be facing one of Spain’s biggest political crises since the end of the Franco dictatorship four decades ago.
The Spanish government has claimed that Catalonia’s independence referendum is “illegal”.
In a television address, Catalan’s President Carles Puigdemont said: “The Spanish state has by all rights intervened in Catalonia’s government and has established emergency rule.
“We condemn and reject the anti-democratic and totalitarian actions of the Spanish state.”
Malena Palau, a 21-year-old student, said: “We want to vote because we have the right to decide, regardless of what we vote.”
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