Catalonia’s leader Carles Puigdemont said the region won the right to break away from Spain, with his Government claiming on Monday that 90 per cent of voters backed Independence in the banned referendum which was marred by clashes.
However Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy declared the Sunday plebiscite had been blocked, saying “today there has not been a self-determination referendum in Catalonia,” a region deeply divided over independence.
Further adding to tensions, unions and Catalan associations called a region-wide strike for Tuesday due to “the grave violation of rights and freedoms,” calling on people to take to the streets in Catalonia, a major engine for Spanish growth.
At least 92 people were confirmed injured out of a total of 844 who needed medical attention, Catalan authorities said, as police cracked down on a vote Spain’s central government branded a “farce”.
The Interior Ministry said 33 police required treatment as a result of the clashes.