What’s next for Spain’s Catalonia?

MADRID — The regional Catalan government plans to declare independence from Spain in the coming days, the latest twist in a constitutional crisis between Spain’s central government in Madrid and separatists in the northeast.

What that independence declaration will actually mean for the prosperous region is unknown. Here’s a look at how the standoff is evolving:

A BLOODIED REFERENDUM: The conflict over a self-determination vote has been dragging on for six years, but Catalan separatists finally staged such a referendum on Sunday despite Spain’s insistence it was illegal and an order by Spain’s top Constitutional Court that it be suspended while judges determined its legality.

Spanish police, following orders from a judge to prevent the referendum, clashed with voters and supporters Sunday, resulting in injuries to over 900 people .

Extensive protests and a strike took place Tuesday in Catalonia against the police actions. QUESTIONABLE RESULT: The way the referendum was held has raised many complaints about its validity. The vote did not have any census controls, electoral board or official vote-counting teams or international observers of any weight.

Catalan authorities claimed that about 2.3 million people — less than half the region’s electorate — voted in the referendum Sunday. Many of those opposed to independence are thought to have stayed at home. Of those who voted, about 90 percent voted for independence.

Regional President Carles Puigdemont proclaimed a victory, saying the vote entitled Catalonia to be recognized. Spain cried foul, and most governments backed it. A NEW EUROPEAN STATE? Spain has existed with more or less the same borders for about 500 years. But that could change Monday if Puigdemont and his supporters have their way. The regional leader has pledged that independence will be declared within days. No one, however, seems keen to recognize a new European state. The European Union has said it won’t, and international bodies have demanded that Catalonia obey Spain’s constitution.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Puigdemont has not given any clear idea of what the new Catalan state would ldo regarding key issues such as borders with the rest of Spain and France, its defense and foreign affairs, tax collection and management of key infrastructure such as airports, ports, rail transport and nuclear stations, most of which are controlled by Spain.

The European Union has already said it would be expelled from the bloc and its shared currency, the euro, and would have to reapply to rejoin, a lengthy, uncertain process.