People gather as they watch on giant screens a plenary session outside the Catalan regional parliament in Barcelona, Spain, October 27, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman
October 27, 2017
BARCELONA (Reuters) – Catalonia’s regional parliament declared independence from Spain on Friday in a disputed vote that is now likely to be declared illegal by Spain’s constitutional court.
The independence motion was passed in the 135-strong assembly with 70 votes in favor, 10 against and 2 blank ballots, the assembly’s speaker said.
Lawmakers from the Socialist Party, the People’s Party (PP) and Ciudadanos had left the chamber before the vote in protest.
(Reporting by Sam Edwards; Writing by Julien Toyer; Editing by Paul Day)
