Catalan independence referendum: what comes next

Catalonia is set for independence, says the Catalan president Carles Puigdemont. Following a “yes” victory in Sunday’s referendum, the government promises to pursue independence in a matter of days.

On Monday at 10am, Puigdemont will appear in front of the Catalan Parliament, where pro-independence parties hold a slim majority, to present the final results of the vote. The next move could be to declare independence, and initiate a transition period from the current Spanish monarchy to the creation of a Catalan republic.

Yet, the independence of Catalonia is not likely to come about that easily.

The Spanish government is committed to hampering any efforts from Catalan politicians to break away. Neither they do recognize the results of Sunday’s referendum, which has already been suspended by the Spanish Constitutional Court, nor they are keen to allow a new independence vote in agreement with the Catalan government.

Tension at an all-times high

The tension between governments in Madrid and Barcelona is at an all-times high. The relationship had already deteriorated in recent weeks: in order to stop the preparations for the referendum, Spanish Guardia Civil police arrested Catalan high-ranking officials and raided government buildings.