People gather in Barcelona to watch on giant screens as the Catalan parliament votes to declare independence from Spain on Friday. Separatist lawmakers erupted in applause as the motion was approved with 70 votes in favour of independence, 10 against and two blank ballots. The rule of law will restore legality in Catalonia," Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy wrote in a Twitter message immediately after the vote. An alliance of separatist parties has controlled the Catalan Parliament since 2015, after winning elections, but with only 48% of the votes. Large crowds gathered outside the Catalan Parliament on Friday in anticipation of what they hoped would be a historic day for Catalonia.

Source: Bangkok Post October 27, 2017 13:52 UTC