VIDEO: Catalonia crisis explained in 60 seconds

The Catalan government is expected to declare independence in the coming days. Here, we look at some of the issues surrounding the biggest political crisis to hit Spain in recent years:
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Oct 2017, 22:19 BST
Updated 12th Dec 2017, 06:27 BST
Irene Guszman, 15, wearing a Spanish flag on her shoulders and Mariona Esteve, 14, with an 'estelada' or independence flag, walk along the street to take part on a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct.3, 2017. Thousands of people demonstrated against the confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during Sunday's referendum on Catalonia's secession from Spain that was previously declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional CourtIrene Guszman, 15, wearing a Spanish flag on her shoulders and Mariona Esteve, 14, with an 'estelada' or independence flag, walk along the street to take part on a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct.3, 2017. Thousands of people demonstrated against the confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during Sunday's referendum on Catalonia's secession from Spain that was previously declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court
Irene Guszman, 15, wearing a Spanish flag on her shoulders and Mariona Esteve, 14, with an 'estelada' or independence flag, walk along the street to take part on a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct.3, 2017. Thousands of people demonstrated against the confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during Sunday's referendum on Catalonia's secession from Spain that was previously declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court

:: How has the current situation come about?

Catalonia, a region in the north-east of Spain, has a population of some 7.5 million people, its own language and generates about a fifth of the country's wealth. Catalans who want independence from Spain argue the region would be more prosperous governing itself.

In 2006 the region was given more devolved powers on things like healthcare and education but a move by Spain's Madrid-based Constitutional Court four years later to strike down some parts of the earlier agreement provoked anger among pro-independence Catalans.

Irene Guszman, 15, wearing a Spanish flag on her shoulders and Mariona Esteve, 14, with an 'estelada' or independence flag, walk along the street to take part on a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct.3, 2017. Thousands of people demonstrated against the confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during Sunday's referendum on Catalonia's secession from Spain that was previously declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional CourtIrene Guszman, 15, wearing a Spanish flag on her shoulders and Mariona Esteve, 14, with an 'estelada' or independence flag, walk along the street to take part on a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct.3, 2017. Thousands of people demonstrated against the confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during Sunday's referendum on Catalonia's secession from Spain that was previously declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court
Irene Guszman, 15, wearing a Spanish flag on her shoulders and Mariona Esteve, 14, with an 'estelada' or independence flag, walk along the street to take part on a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct.3, 2017. Thousands of people demonstrated against the confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during Sunday's referendum on Catalonia's secession from Spain that was previously declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court

:: What happened on Sunday?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

An independence vote, deemed illegal by the Madrid government and the country's top court, was held after being backed by Catalan regional authorities.

The poll descended into violence when national police used force in an attempt to stop people voting, leaving hundreds injured.

:: How did the main players react?

Irene Guszman, 15, wearing a Spanish flag on her shoulders and Mariona Esteve, 14, with an 'estelada' or independence flag, walk along the street to take part on a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct.3, 2017. Thousands of people demonstrated against the confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during Sunday's referendum on Catalonia's secession from Spain that was previously declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional CourtIrene Guszman, 15, wearing a Spanish flag on her shoulders and Mariona Esteve, 14, with an 'estelada' or independence flag, walk along the street to take part on a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct.3, 2017. Thousands of people demonstrated against the confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during Sunday's referendum on Catalonia's secession from Spain that was previously declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court
Irene Guszman, 15, wearing a Spanish flag on her shoulders and Mariona Esteve, 14, with an 'estelada' or independence flag, walk along the street to take part on a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Oct.3, 2017. Thousands of people demonstrated against the confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during Sunday's referendum on Catalonia's secession from Spain that was previously declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court

Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull said Spain had become "the shame of Europe" after scenes of police taking on voters were beamed around the world and splashed across the front pages.

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy thanked police for acting with "firmness and serenity" as he insisted no independence vote had taken place and Spain's King Felipe VI accused Catalan authorities of deliberately bending the law with "irresponsible conduct".

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Catalan officials said 90% of the 2.26 million people who took part in the vote backed independence. The region has 5.3 million registered voters.

:: What does the future hold?

Catalan authorities have said they are determined to press ahead with implementing the results of the vote.

:: Why have some of Spain's EU partners appeared keen to back Madrid?

Cynics might suggest domestic concerns may partly explain this. For example, some of Mr Rajoy's clearest backing has come from French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country has faced low-level breakaway sentiment from Corsica and the Basque Country, which straddles both south-west France and north-west Spain.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There have also been separatist rumblings in northern Italy, Sardinia and Flanders in Belgium.

:: Where does Scotland stand?

Scottish National Party (SNP) leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has condemned Sunday's violence. Spain angered some SNP campaigners during the 2014 referendum by pouring cold water on the idea an independent Scotland would be given automatic EU membership.

Indeed, when Scotland voted to remain in the UK, Mr Rajoy - with an eye on Cataloniaand the Basque Country - congratulated Scots for "clearly and unequivocally" rejecting independence, and voting "en masse, peacefully and with scrupulous respect to the laws of their country".

:: How about Plaid Cymru in Wales?

Like the SNP, Plaid Cymru wants independence from the UK and party leader Leanne Wood has condemned Madrid's "threats and repression" against the Catalan people.

Related topics:SpainEmmanuel Macron