- Title: Catalan wake up to news of independence law
- Date: 7th September 2017
- Summary: FRONT PAGE OF CATALAN NEWSPAPER LA VANGUARDIA PEOPLE SEATED AT OUTDOORS CAFE PEOPLE STANDING ON STREET MAN READING NEWSPAPER AT OUTDOORS CAFE VARIOUS OF MAN READING NEWSPAPER AT INDOORS CAFE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA RESIDENT, LAURENT LEGARD, 53-YEARS-OLD, INTERIOR DESIGNER, SAYING: "I think it is okay that Catalonia has the right to vote but it seems to me that the way in which the process is being handled will lead to failure. It will not happen as it will never be legal if it's not agreed with the government by changing the constitution or whatever. This is not the right road. This was approved yesterday at a Parliament which was half-empty. This is not the way of a democracy." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ROSA GOMEZ, 54-YEARS-OLD, CIVIL SERVANT, SAYING: "I am very happy, yes, yes. I hope this (referendum law) goes ahead and we can be independent." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DOLORES, 55-YEARS-OLD, RECEPTIONIST, SAYING: "The truth is that we are delighted, we were waiting for this moment for many years and we think that it is really a democracy to allow people to give their opinion about how they want to live and how they want their country to be." CATALONIA'S FLAG WAVING PRO INDEPENDENCE FLAG (ESTELADA) HANGING FROM A BALCONY EXTERIOR BARCELONA'S CULTURAL CENTRE OF EL BORNE AND CATALONIA'S FLAG WAVING
- Embargoed: 21st September 2017 10:20
- Keywords: Catalonia Independence Barcelona Reaction
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0036XLKQIV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Barcelona residents on Thursday (September 7) woke up to news of a law passed in parliament overnight which will allow them to vote in an independence referendum on October 1.
After 12 hours of often chaotic debate at the Catalan parliament, a majority voted for the referendum and the legal framework to set up a new state, under which the assembly would declare independence within 48 hours of a "yes" vote.
A Barcelona resident said she was 'delighted' by the news while a French citizen living in Barcelona said the process will fail if it goes ahead without the central government's approval.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said his government will stop what it says would be an illegal vote.
Courts have already suspended from office and levelled millions of euros in fines at Catalan politicians who organised a non-binding referendum in 2014, which returned a "yes" vote on a low turnout. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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