SPAIN-CATALONIA/VOTE COUNTING Polls close in Catalonia's symbolic independence vote

Record ID: 328369

  • Title: SPAIN-CATALONIA/VOTE COUNTING Polls close in Catalonia's symbolic independence vote
  • Date: 9th November 2014
  • Summary: SANT VICENC DELS HORTS, SPAIN (NOVEMBER 9, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION VARIOUS OF PEOPLE VOTING REPUBLICAN LEFT (ERC) LEADER, ORIOL JUNQUERAS, IN POLLING STATION WITH MAN WAITING TO VOTE JUNQUERAS MAN WAITING TO VOTE MAN VOTING BALLOT BEING DROPPED INTO BALLOT BOX (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) REPUBLICAN LEFT LEADER, ORIOL JUNQUERAS, SAYING: "We hope, from ERC, with all modesty but firmly, that this becomes another step, an important step, the decisive step to obtain a pro-independence majority in the Catalan parliament that allows us to proclaim the independence of Catalonia." VARIOUS OF BALLOTS FATHER TAKING PICTURE OF HIS DAUGHTER VOTING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SANT VICENC DELS HORTS RESIDENT, CARLA MUNOZ, SAYING: "The first time is always more special, especially if it is a historic moment like this. It always feels better. I hope the message gets to Madrid and they realise what it means, because voting for nothing is useless. So let's hope they start to be reasonable in Madrid and in the rest of the world." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SANT VICENC DELS HORTS RESIDENT, SANTIAGO MUNOZ, SAYING: "I hope we see a different political framework from tomorrow. I hope politicians, both here and in Madrid, reach an agreement so that we can move forward." BALLOT BOX JUNQUERA'S ID JUNQUERAS CASTING HIS BALLOT PEOPLE APPLAUDING/ JUNQUERAS JUNQUERAS AND VOLUNTEER OPENING BALLOT BOX AND COUNTING FIRST BALLOT VARIOUS OF JUNQUERAS COUNTING BALLOTS
  • Embargoed: 24th November 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6OBTBNUP8KCSV5O1WMCEGHL29
  • Story Text: Hundreds of thousands of Catalans voted on Sunday (November 09) in a symbolic referendum on independence from Spain that supporters hope will escalate the issue further despite opposition from Madrid.
    The "consultation of citizens" in the wealthy northeastern region follows a legal block by the central government against a more formal, but still non-binding ballot which regional leaders had been pushing for.
    Pro-secession politicians hope strong support will prompt the Spanish government to sit down with them and negotiate more tax and political autonomy, or even convince Madrid to accept a full-blown independence referendum in the future.
    The regional government said that at 1700GMT almost two million of the 5.4 million eligible voter cast their ballot.
    Oriol Junqueras, leader of the only traditional separatist party in the region, the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), volunteered at a polling station in his hometown, Sant Vicenc dels Horts, where 80 percent of the population speaks Spanish as their first language.
    "The first time is always more special, especially if it is a historic moment like this. It always feels better. I hope the message gets to Madrid and they realise what it means, because voting for nothing is useless. So let's hope they start to be reasonable in Madrid and in the rest of the world," Junqueras told Reuters minutes before polls closed.
    The ballot comes after two years of escalating tension between the Spanish and the regional government over the issue of independence.
    The government argues that Catalonia, which makes up about 16 percent of Spain's population, cannot decide something which affects Spain as a whole on constitutional grounds.
    Carla Munoz, a 17 year-old first time voter, said it was a special day for her.
    "The first time is always more special, especially if it is a historic moment like this. It always feels better. I hope the message gets to Madrid and they realise what it means, because voting for nothing is useless. So let's hope they start to be reasonable in Madrid and in the rest of the world," she said.
    Her father said he hoped the vote would encourage politicians to reach an agreement.
    "I hope we see a different political framework from tomorrow. I hope politicians, both here and in Madrid, reach an agreement so that we can move forward," Santiago Munoz said.
    Polling stations closed at 1900GMT on Sunday.
    The chances of a formal vote on Catalan autonomy remain slim, partly because regional authorities are themselves divided over the desired extent of powers for the region.
    The autonomous community of Catalonia accounts for one-fifth of Spain's economic output and its long-standing desire for independence has been fuelled by the country's deep recession over the past few years.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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