Catalunya's Parliament votes to declare independence

The main pro-secession parties – the CUP, Junts pel Sí ('Together for Yes'), the Catalunya Left Republicans (ERC) voted for the regional law passed ahead of the referendum to be invoked, but the socialists, the PP and centre-right Ciudadanos refused to take part, saying the debate was illegal.

A second vote, proposed by the right-wing PP, for Catalunya to dissolve its Parliament and call elections has lost, with 52 votes in favour, 83 against and no regional MP abstaining.

Ciudadanos put forward a similar proposal, which again, was voted 83 against and 52 in favour.

Catalunya's branch of left-wing Podemos – Catalunya Sí Que Es Pot – called for 'social cohesion above everything else' and opposes both a UDI and the triggering of Article 155 by the national government, which would strip Catalunya of its powers.

“We always respect democracy, and the public needs to be allowed to decide via a legal referendum and with all the guarantees of what they want Catalunya to be,” says Sí Que Es Pot's MP Marta Ribas.

Podemos' national leader Pablo Iglesias is against an 'illegal' UDI, and also disagrees with invoking Article 155, but says the people should be permitted to vote in a legitimate referendum.

Socialist MP in Catalunya Eva Granados says: “Today, with the UDI, they've blown everything apart. They've put us on the edge of a cliff and now they're taking another step towards it.”

She says 'nobody wants Article 155 to be applied' but that this is 'the deliberate consequence of trying to go above the law'.

Ciudadanos' regional spokesman Carlos Carrizosa says Catalunya's president Carles Puigdemont would 'go down in history for having ruined the region', but not for breaking up Spain.

“Today is a sad and dramatic day for Catalunya – it's a day when a coup on our democracy, founded in 1978, was staged,” Carrizosa said.

“You [for the pro-independence politicians] want to deprive us catalanes of our Spanish passports, and have done so by lying, because the truth is you cannot stay on track in the face of confrontation.”

The PP's reaction was predictable – spokesman Alejandro Fernández called the vote 'a black day for democracy'.

“No debate justifies the barbaric behaviour seen here in the last five years,” he stormed.

Turning to regional deputy president Oriol Junqueras, Fernández said: “We're not going to swallow your crocodile tears. We know you only want to manipulate the feelings of the people of Catalunya.”

Carles Riera of the CUP says that in accordance with the disputed Referendum Law, Puigdemont 'has no other option but to proclaim independence'.

“This is the mandate we have been given by the public at the polling stations,” Riera said.

“We request you to declare an independent State of the Republic of Catalunya – let's divorce from the régime of 1978 and the Monarchy.”

Junts pel Sí, through its spokeswoman Marta Rovira, said the State government had 'offered a dialogue which does not respect democratic minorities' and that 'the unity of Spain is what drives any dialogue they are prepared to undertake'.

“We don't want to impose independence on anyone – we put our opinion on the subject to the vote, and won.

“On October 1, we only wanted to be allowed to vote. We set up polling stations for everyone and everyone has had the chance to express their views.

“Unfortunately, the State is incapable of adapting itself to accommodate Catalunya's social demands.”

The international community has already confirmed it will not recognise Catalunya as a separate country, and if the declaration goes ahead, it will be sufficient fuel for the State to trigger Article 155.