WEB DESK / AMN
Thousands of people today marched in Barcelona to demand Catalonia rejects independence and stays with Spain. March organisers Societat Civil Catalana claimed 930,000 people turned out, but Barcelona police put the total at around 350,000.
The demonstration comes a week after the Catalan government held a referendum on secession that was condemned as illegal and unconstitutional by the Spanish government.
The vote, which was won by the Yes side, was broken up by police, who beat voters with batons. The tactic was condemned throughout the world but a Spanish minister told Sky News it was “absolutely proportionate” .
On Saturday too a large rally was held in the city to demand secession from Spain, while another demonstration was held in support of Spanish unity in Madrid.
Speaking to El Pais on Sunday, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said: “Spain is not going to be divided and the nation’s unity will be maintained.
“The ideal would be not to have to take drastic measures. I would like this threat of a declaration of independence to be withdrawn as quickly as possible.”
Those measures could include taking over the regional government’s powers, a move that could deepen the country’s worst political crisis in a generation.