Thousands of independence supporters in Barca celebrate

Barcelona, Oct. 27: Tens of thousands of independence supporters massed near the Catalan parliament cheered with joy on Friday after majority separatist lawmakers voted to declare independence from Spain and proclaim a republic.

Watching proceedings in parliament on two large screens, they clapped and shouted "independence" in Catalan before singing the regional hymn, many raising their fists. Some celebrated by drinking Cava, a sparkling wine produced in Catalonia, and hugged each other.

“It has cost us so much to get here,” 38-year-old social worker Judith Rodriguez said in the crowd, with tears in her eyes. “I am very emotional about finally moving forward, to be able to build a republic, a new country, from scratch,” added Mr Rodriguez, who wore a t-shirt with the slogan “fem pais” or “let's build a country”.

The independence declaration is not recognised by Madrid, which soon after the parliamentary vote was given the goahead by Spain’s Senate to impose direct rule on Catalonia to stop its drive to separate from Spain.

Reacting after the vote, EU President Donald Tusk said that Madrid “remains our only interlocutor”, but nevertheless urged the Spanish government to go easy with its planned temporary takeover of the semiautonomous region.

“I hope the Spanish government favours force of argument, not argument of force,” he tweeted. Mr Rodriguez’s partner Jose Ligero, a 43-year-old property manager, said the international community did not understand what was happening in Catalonia.

“I understand that the path we are on is not well regarded in other parts of the world, but we did not have a choice, this was not achieved by politicians, it was done by the street,” he said. Two influential grassroots independence groups, the Catalan National Assembly and Omnium Cultural, had urged its followers to gather outside the parliament during the vote. — AFP