Catalan vote.

Catalan separatists claim victory in independence vote

Over 90 percent of people who voted said ‘Yes’ to independence, the regional authorities say.

By ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH

Catalan separatists claimed an overwhelming victory in the region’s independence referendum Sunday, which has been deemed illegal by Madrid.

The regional government announced early Monday that with 95 percent of votes counted, 2.26 million people cast a ballot, accounting for 42 percent of the 5.34 million eligible, 90.1 percent of whom voted ‘Yes’ to independence and 7.9 percent ‘No.’ The remainder of the votes were blank or null. The Catalan government claimed a further 700,000 people were prevented from voting.

“Catalonia has won its right to be a new republic, if this is what the parliament decides,” Regional Vice President  Oriol Junqueras said at a press conference called to announce the result.

Spain’s 1978 constitution establishes the principle of the united sovereignty of the Spanish people, and most in the national parliament oppose the constitutional change required to allow self-determination for Catalonia. Most EU leaders have so far supported Madrid, unwilling to be seen to undermine Spain’s constitution.

“Europe must choose between shame or dignity,” said Catalonian Foreign Affairs Minister Raül Romeva at the Monday press conference, in a pointed message to EU capitals. “We expect an answer.”

On Sunday night, Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont declared his followers had “earned the right to be an independent state.”