ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

About one million people have packed the streets of Barcelona to celebrate Catalonia’s commemorative day and boost a bid for independence.

The city’s streets were filled with demonstrators flying red and yellow Catalan flags as they marched chanting and singing during a "Diada" celebration on Tuesday evening.

The massive protest comes after regional president Quim Torra and his predecessor Carles Puigdemont made calls for residents to show continued support for independence from Spain.

Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, who took office in June, has stood firm against a move towards the region’s independence but debate over the issue remains heated.

Local police estimated that about million people in total descended on the city for the protest and celebration, which marks the fall of Barcelona to Spain in 1714.

Divisions over the question of secession are stark in a region, which makes up about a fifth of Spain's economic output and has a high level of autonomy in areas including education and health and its own police force.

A July poll showed 46.7 per cent of Catalans said they wanted an independent state while 44.9 percent did not.

A separatist coalition won regional elections in December, although the fervently pro-unionist Ciudadanos emerged as the single largest party.

Ciudadanos's leader, Barcelona-born Albert Rivera, said on Twitter the Diada had been turned into "a day of exclusion, hatred and attack on Spain".

With the official slogan "Let's Make the Catalan Republic" printed on T-shirts and signs, protesters went silent at 5.14pm, which on a 24-hour clock is 1714 - the year when Barcelona fell in the Spanish War of Succession.

A loud cheer and cries of "independence" and "freedom" followed, sweeping along a 3.7-mile stretch of the city's Diagonal avenue.

In a giant symbolic wall, protesters toppled the image of a king of spades playing card, in an apparent rejection of the Spanish monarchy.

This year's demonstration comes nearly one year after an illegal referendum on secession held by Catalan authorities led to an ineffective independence declaration that received no international recognition.

Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain's constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either in prison awaiting trial or have fled the country.</s>BARCELONA, Spain — Hundreds of thousands of Catalan separatists let out a collective shout as they marched along a main artery in Barcelona on Tuesday, marking the first of a series of mass mobilizations demanding independence from Spain and the release of several high-profile secessionists from jail.

With the official slogan "Let's Make the Catalan Republic" printed on pink T-shirts and signs, protesters went silent at 5.14 p.m., which on a 24-hour clock is 1714 — the year when Barcelona fell in the Spanish War of Succession.

A loud cheer and cries of "independence" and "freedom" followed, sweeping along a six-kilometer (3.7-mile) -long stretch of the city's Diagonal avenue. In a giant symbolic wall, protesters toppled the image of a king of spades playing card, in an apparent rejection of the Spanish monarchy.

Barcelona's local police estimated around 1 million protesters took part. Grassroots organizers said that 470,000 people had signed up online for the rally, with many more expected to join in.

The march on the traditional Sept. 11 holiday in Catalonia called "la Diada" has drawn similarly huge crowds of secession supporters in recent past years.

This year's demonstration comes nearly one year after an illegal referendum on secession held by Catalan authorities led to an ineffective independence declaration that received no international recognition. Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain's constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either in prison awaiting trial or have fled the country.

Quim Torra, Catalonia's regional president, said Tuesday that while maintaining his pledge to see through the breakaway bid, his immediate focus is on putting pressure on the courts ahead of the trials of the separatist movement's jailed leaders.

Torra's goal is to stoke public showings of strength on Oct. 1, the anniversary of the referendum that was met by a police crackdown, the failed declaration of independence last Oct. 27, and the imminent start of the trials.

"In the coming weeks we are going to put all out efforts into denouncing" the situation of the jailed separatists, Torra said. "If the prisoners are not absolved, my government and the Catalan Parliament will take necessary action."

Some within the secessionist movement want Torra's government to immediately try again to unilaterally break with Spain.

"We have come here today to demand once again freedom for Catalonia," said 57-year-old Lourdes Casajus, who came from her home in Vic, a town in the Catalan heartland, to join the separatist rally. "Last Oct. 1, we voted in a referendum and the majority for independence wasn't respected. This Sept. 11 we demand that all the politicians, both from there and ours here, respect the people's will."

Torra, who came to power after secessionist parties won a regional election, has met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and is planning a second meeting, in what is considered a thawing of relations between Madrid and Barcelona. Torra wants Spain's new center-left national government to agree to a binding independence referendum, while Sanchez will only offer a vote on increasing northeastern Catalonia's already considerable degree of self-rule.

Catalonia's separatist political parties, which hold seats in Spain's Parliament, have failed to garner support to amend the Spanish Constitution to allow a vote on secession.

Sanchez issued an appeal to "start a dialogue between Catalans" on Tuesday.

Polls and official election results indicate that roughly half of Catalonia's 7.5 million residents are against severing century-old ties with the rest of Spain. Catalans have family in other parts of Spain, share in its cultural traditions and speak Spanish along with Catalan.

Non-separatists often say they no longer feel welcome at "la Diada," which they say has ceased to be a celebration of Catalan identity and become a political rally.

"I have attended almost all of Catalonia Day celebrations," 51-year-old Victor Pozanco said. "But five years ago I stopped attending. I don't want to be counted as another separatist simply by attending the rally. Because I am not one of them, but I am Catalan."

There are also those who feel that the tensions that have arisen because of the secession question are taking an ugly toll on families and friendships.

"I am in the middle," 53-year-old cafe owner Nelida Adell said. "I have more affinities with the separatists but I also have family ties in the rest of Spain. So I don't want a radical break. I would like tensions to decrease. I fear things could get out of hand."</s>Catalan separatists have taken to the streets of Barcelona in the first of a series of mass mobilisations demanding independence from Spain and the release of several high-profile secessionists from jail.

Catalan separatists have taken to the streets of Barcelona in the first of a series of mass mobilisations demanding independence from Spain and the release of several high-profile secessionists from jail.

The traditional September 11 march marking the Diada, when the Catalan capital fell during the Spanish War of Succession in 1714, has drawn hundreds of thousands of secession supporters in recent years.

It comes nearly a year after an illegal referendum on secession held by Catalan authorities led to an ineffective independence declaration that received no international recognition.

Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain’s constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country.

Quim Torra, the Catalan regional president, said that while maintaining his pledge to see through the breakaway bid, his immediate focus was on putting pressure on the courts ahead of the trials of the movement’s jailed leaders.

His goal is to whip up support for public showings of strength on October 1, the anniversary of the referendum that was met by a police crackdown, the failed declaration of independence on October 27, and the imminent start of the trials.

“In the coming weeks we are going to put all our efforts into denouncing” the situation of the jailed separatists, Mr Torra said.

“If the prisoners are not absolved, my government and the Catalan parliament will take necessary action.”

He said he would not go as far as throwing open the cells of the secessionists, who are being held in Catalan prisons run by his administration.

Some within the secessionist movement want Mr Torra’s government to immediately try again to unilaterally break with Spain.

“We have come here today to demand once again freedom for Catalonia,” said 57-year-old Lourdes Casajus, who came from her home in the Catalan heartland to join the separatist rally.

“Last October 1 we voted in a referendum and the majority for independence wasn’t respected. This September 11 we demand that all the politicians, both from there and ours here, respect the people’s will.”

Mr Torra, who rose to power after secessionist parties won a regional election, has met Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez and is planning a second meeting, in what is considered a thawing of relations between Madrid and Barcelona.

He wants Spain’s new centre-left national government to agree to a binding independence referendum, while Mr Sanchez will only offer a vote on increasing Catalonia’s already considerable degree of self-rule.

Polls and official election results indicate that roughly half of Catalonia’s 7.5 million residents are against severing century-old ties with the rest of Spain.</s>A protester waves a pro-independence Estelada flag as a banner reading "Free political prisoners and those exiled" outside Catalonia's parliament in June. Photo: AFP

On the eve of "Diada", Catalonia's "national day", which traditionally brings hundreds of thousands of separatists out on the streets, lets review the region's independence crisis.

Nearly a year after the failed attempt to break away from Spain, the situation remains deadlocked.

Catalonia's parliament declared independence on October 27 following the banned October 1 independence referendum, which was marred by clashes between police officers and voters.

The declaration triggered Spain's worst political crisis since the restoration of democracy following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.

Spain's central government, headed at the time by conservative Mariano Rajoy, responded by suspending the autonomy of the wealthy northeastern region which is home to some 7.5 million people. He dissolved its parliament and sacked Catalonia's separatist government headed by Carles Puigdemont.

Puigdemont and several members of his government left Spain a few days later to avoid being arrested. Other separatist leaders were jailed over their role in Catalonia's independence push.

Charged with rebellion, which carries a jail term of up to 25 years, numerous Catalan separatist leaders are in exile or in prison awaiting a trial, which is expected to take place at the end of the year.

READ MORE: All about the Catalan crisis

The separatists plan to use Tuesday's annual march to call for freedom for these "political prisoners" as they call them. "Diada" commemorates the fall of Barcelona in the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714 and the region's subsequent loss of institutions and freedoms.

Separatist parties won a slim majority of 70 seats in the 135-seat Catalan parliament in early regional elections on December 21 even though they fell short of a majority of the popular vote, securing 47.5 percent in a region that remains deeply divided over the issue of independence.

While Catalonia's new leader Quim Torra, who Puigdemont picked as his successor, has defiantly relaunched the push for independence, "there is no strategy in the short, medium or long-term," said Oriol Bartomeus, a politics professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

"Listening to the speeches of the separatist leaders, it seems like there is no plan. There is a sort of hangover with respect to last year," he added.

The separatist camp is split over the way ahead with pro-independence party ERC adopting a more cautious stance than Torra.

Gabriel Rufian, an ERC member of Spain's parliament, on Sunday called for the bubble of "magical independence" to be burst, in a reference to announcements by separatists leaders which then had no effect.

Bartomeus said he did not believe the Catalan government, which regained its autonomy once Torra came to power, would stage another referendum or make another declaration of independence.

But he warned that if Catalan separatist leaders are sentenced to jail, this could lead to "an act of disobedience to capitalise on the dissatisfaction of the separatist base".



 Protesters gather for a demonstration against Catalan independence and in favor of Spanish unity in Barcelona on September 9th. Photo: AFP



Spain's new Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez -- catapulted to power in June with the support of Catalan separatist parties in a no-confidence vote that ousted Rajoy -- has taken a softer line on Catalonia.

He has renewed dialogue with the Catalan government and last week offered Catalonia a referendum on greater autonomy.

Torra swiftly rejected the proposal and warned that if Madrid did not allow the region to hold a legally binding independence referendum his government would enforce the "mandate" of the banned October 1st plebiscite, a move that would see Madrid once again suspend Catalonia's autonomy.

A majority, around two million people, voted for independence in the October ballot, but turnout was low as opponents did not show up for a vote Spain declared illegal. The results were not recognised internationally.</s>BARCELONA, Spain — Catalan separatist took to the streets of Barcelona on Tuesday in the first of a series of mass mobilizations demanding independence from Spain and the release of several high-profile secessionists from jail.

The traditional Sept. 11 march marking the ‘Diada,’ when the Catalan capital fell during the Spanish War of Succession in 1714, has drawn hundreds of thousands of secession supporters in recent years.

It comes nearly one year after an illegal referendum on secession held by Catalan authorities led to an ineffective independence declaration that received no international recognition. Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain’s constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country.

Quim Torra, the Catalan regional president, said Tuesday that while maintaining his pledge to see through the breakaway bid, his immediate focus was on putting pressure on the courts ahead of the trials of the separatist movement’s jailed leaders.

Torra’s goal is to rev up support for public showings of strength on Oct. 1, the anniversary of the referendum that was met by a police crackdown, the failed declaration of independence last Oct. 27, and the imminent start of the trials.

“In the coming weeks we are going to put all out efforts into denouncing” the situation of the jailed separatists, Torra said. “If the prisoners are not absolved, my government and the Catalan Parliament will take necessary action.”

Torra said that he would not go as far as throwing open the cells of the secessionists, who are being held in Catalan prisons run by his administration.

Some within the secessionist movement want Torra’s government to immediately try again to unilaterally break with Spain.

“We have come here today to demand once again freedom for Catalonia,” said 57-year-old Lourdes Casajus, who came from her home Vic, a town in the Catalan heartland, to join the separatist rally. “Last Oct. 1 we voted in a referendum and the majority for independence wasn’t respected. This Sept. 11 we demand that all the politicians, both from there and ours here, respect the people’s will.”

Torra, who came to power after secessionist parties won a regional election, has met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and is planning a second meeting, in what is considered a thawing of relations between Madrid and Barcelona. Torra wants Spain’s new centre-left national government to agree to a binding independence referendum, while Sanchez will only offer a vote on increasing northeastern Catalonia’s already considerable degree of self-rule.

Polls and official election results indicate that roughly half of Catalonia’s 7.5 million residents are against severing century-old ties with the rest of Spain. Catalans have family in other parts of Spain, share in its cultural traditions and speak Spanish along with Catalan.

Those Catalans against secession decry what they consider the monopolization of the Diada, or ‘Catalonia Day,’ by separatists. Grassroots separatist groups in recent years have organized the massive rallies, including chartering buses to bring people into Barcelona from small towns.

Non-separatists often say they no longer feel welcome at the event, which they say has ceased to be a celebration of Catalan identity and become a political rally.

Ines Arrimadas, the regional leader of the pro-Spain Citizens party, criticized recent statements by Torra that the Diada was exclusively for those in favour of secession.

“Today we give voice to the millions of Catalans who will stay at home,” Arrimadas said. “We are standing up to say that union is stronger than disunion. Torra and those with him want to silence one half of Catalonia.”

There are also those who feel that the tensions that have arisen because of the secession question are taking an ugly toll on families and friendships.

“I am in the middle,” 53-year-old cafe owner Nelida Adell said. “I have more affinities with the separatists but I also have family ties in the rest of Spain. So I don’t want a radical break. I would like tensions to decrease. I fear things could get out of hand.”

Aritz Parra in Madrid contributed to this report.</s>Nearly a year after the failed attempt to break away from Spain, the situation remains deadlocked.

Catalonia's parliament declared independence on October 27 following the banned October 1 independence referendum, which was marred by clashes between police officers and voters.

The declaration triggered Spain's worst political crisis since the restoration of democracy following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.

Spain's central government, headed at the time by conservative Mariano Rajoy, responded by suspending the autonomy of the wealthy northeastern region which is home to some 7.5 million people. He dissolved its parliament and sacked Catalonia's separatist government headed by Carles Puigdemont.

Puigdemont and several members of his government left Spain a few days later to avoid being arrested. Other separatist leaders were jailed over their role in Catalonia's independence push.

Charged with rebellion, which carries a jail term of up to 25 years, numerous Catalan separatist leaders are in exile or in prison awaiting a trial, which is expected to take place at the end of the year.

The separatists plan to use Tuesday's annual march to call for freedom for these "political prisoners" as they call them. "Diada" commemorates the fall of Barcelona in the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714 and the region's subsequent loss of institutions and freedoms.</s>Spain has been through a tumultuous 12 months, dominated by the prolonged political stand-off in Catalonia and a series of scandals in Madrid, which eventually saw the centre-right government fall and the socialists take over.

Spain’s foreign minister, Josep Borrell - himself Catalan - is a strong opponent of independence. He tells the BBC's Stephen Sackur that Catalonia does not favour breaking away from Spain and that many people are not able to take the separatists seriously.

You can see the Hardtalk interview in full on Tuesday 11 Sep on BBC World News and the BBC News Channel and after on BBC iPlayer (UK only).</s>BARCELONA, Spain — Separatist authorities are calling for people to take to the streets of Barcelona to mark the Day of Catalonia, in the first of a series of mass mobilizations demanding independence from Spain.

The traditional Sept. 11 march marking the “Diada,” when the Catalan capital fell to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of secession sympathizers Tuesday.

It comes nearly one year after a banned referendum on secession led to an ineffective independence declaration. Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain’s constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country.

Catalan President Quim Torra, who came to power after secessionists won a regional election, wants the new centre-left national government to agree to a binding independence referendum.</s>BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Separatist authorities are calling for people to take to the streets of Barcelona to mark the Day of Catalonia, in the first of a series of mass mobilizations demanding independence from Spain.

The traditional Sept. 11 march marking the "Diada," when the Catalan capital fell to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of secession sympathizers Tuesday.

It comes nearly one year after a banned referendum on secession led to an ineffective independence declaration. Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain's constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country.

Independence demonstrators, some of them holding flares, march during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Catalan separatist authorities have made a call to flood the streets of Barcelona later on Tuesday in a march calling for independence from Spain. The traditional method on the Sept. 11 "Diada," which remembers the fall of the Catalan capital to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to attract this year hundreds of thousands of secession sympathizers. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Catalan President Quim Torra, who came to power after secessionists won a regional election, wants the new center-left national government to agree to a binding independence referendum.

Demonstrators, some of them holding flares, march carrying "esteladas" or independence flags during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Catalan separatist authorities have made a call to flood the streets of Barcelona later on Tuesday in a march calling for independence from Spain. The traditional march on the Sept. 11 "Diada," which remembers the fall of the Catalan capital to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to attract this year hundreds of thousands of secession sympathizers. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Members of an ultra-right-wing movement called 'Catalan Identitarian Movement' shout slogans during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Catalan separatist authorities have made a call to flood the streets of Barcelona later on Tuesday in a march calling for independence from Spain. The traditional march on the Sept. 11 "Diada," which remembers the fall of the Catalan capital to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to attract this year hundreds of thousands of secession sympathisers. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)

Demonstrators, some of them holding flares, march carrying "esteladas" or independence flags during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Catalan separatist authorities have made a call to flood the streets of Barcelona later on Tuesday in a march calling for independence from Spain. The traditional march on the Sept. 11 "Diada," which remembers the fall of the Catalan capital to Spanish forces in 1714, is expected to attract this year hundreds of thousands of secession sympathizers. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Members of a ultra-right-wing movement called 'Catalan Identitarian Movement' walk guarded by the police during celebrations of the Catalonia's regional holiday known as "La Diada" in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. Catalan separatist authorities have made a call to flood the streets of Barcelona later on Tuesday in a march calling for independence from Spain. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)</s>MADRID (Reuters) - At the height of the crisis over Catalonia’s secession drive last year, thousands of companies moved their legal headquarters out of the region, the Madrid stock market and government bonds took a hit, and the Spanish state came under strong pressure.

Nearly a year later, the organisers of an illegal referendum on independence for Catalonia are in jail or in self-imposed exile, Spain has a new prime minister and the economy has stabilised.

But the situation remains tense and could flare up any time.

WHAT IS THE DANGER FOR THE ECONOMY?

Despite the crisis, Catalonia remains one of Spain’s main economic powerhouses and still accounts for around a fifth of national gross domestic product.

However, a Catalan trade group says hotels in Barcelona have seen revenue fall 14 percent this summer after the city developed a negative reputation internationally, partly as a result of political instability.

Data also showed fewer new businesses were created in Catalonia and international investment had dropped, putting the region on track to fall behind Madrid in terms of economic output for the first time.

More than 3,000 firms have shifted their headquarters outside the region, many to Madrid. The risk is that the uncertainty over investments in Catalonia will translate into a slow economic decline.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON POLITICS?

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who ousted the conservative Mariano Rajoy in June, remains opposed to Catalonia becoming an independent state, something the Spanish constitution does not allow.

Sanchez has however adopted a softer tone and offered to hold a wide-ranging dialogue that could lead to drafting a new statute of autonomy that Catalans would have the opportunity to adopt or reject by referendum.

Catalonia’s new leader, Quim Torra, last week dismissed the idea that this could be a way forward and instead called on Sanchez to accept a legally-binding referendum on independence.

Because Sanchez needs Torra’s party votes in the national parliament to pass the annual budget bill, a failure to find common ground in Catalonia would likely spill over to national politics in Madrid - and possibly trigger a snap national election sometimes in early 2019.

WILL THE ISSUE GO AWAY?

According to a survey released in July 46.7 percent of Catalans want their region to become an independent state, while 44.9 percent oppose this solution.

The number of people who are in favour or against independence has remained roughly stable over the last four years, meaning the issue is unlikely to go away any time soon.

Catalonia also elected a new regional parliament this year in which separatist forces retained a majority of seats. The trials of jailed separatist leaders should keep the Catalan question at the top of the political agenda for the time being.
A million Catalonia residents launch an "autumn of protests" on National Day of Catalonia to demand independence from Spain and release "high-profile" secessionists from jail.