Catalanonia’s president Carles Puigdemont called for international mediation in resolving his parliament’s independence dispute with Spain following a violent crackdown by Spanish authorities during the Catalan independence referendum.
Announcing, in a televised statement, that “Catalonia have won the right to an independent state in the form of a republic,” Mr Puigdemont stressed “this European commission must encourage international mediation. It cannot look the other way any longer,”
A spokesperson for the Catalan government said that initial counts indicate that 90% of the 2.26million that participated in the referendum amidst state led violence chose independence.
A Catalan spokesperson said at least 750,000 votes could not be counted, as polling stations were stormed and ballot boxes were confiscated.
Catalanonia’s referendum was marred by events of violence across the region with Spanish riot police storming and dragging voters out of polling stations.
Tense situations arose across the region as Catalan fire fighters formed human shields to protect voters from Spanish riot police. The referendum saw at least 900 people hurt by actions of Spanish police.
Spain’s justice minister Rafael Catala warned that Catalanonia’s declaration of independence could invoke a constitutional clause that allowed Spain’s government to intervene in the running of the autonomous region.
“We are not here to divide Spaniards, but if someone tries to declare independence on behalf of a part of Spain’s territory, that cannot be done because it is beyond their powers,” said Mr Catala.
