Spain: Heightened tensions as crowds gather at Catalan poll stations Oct. 1 /update 3

Event

Large crowds have gathered outside polling station across Catalonia overnight, ahead of the independence referendum scheduled to be held on Sunday, October 1 at 9:00 (local time). Despite efforts by Madrid to block the referendum, which the constitutional court has declared illegal, Catalonia officials have said that the vote will go ahead. Referendum organizers have urged voters to turn up to “defend” the polling stations from 5:00 (local time). Local media has reported that some roads in front of polluting stations have been blocked by locals. Some 6,000 extra police have been deployed to the region to block the vote, and police have said that the crowds will be removed.

On Saturday, October 28, a senior representative of Madrid announced that the police had sealed off 1,300 of the 2,315 polling stations in the region. The same day, officials searched the Catalan government telecommunications centre, and have also reportedly disabled the software connecting polling stations, shutting down online voting applications.

Context

Catalonia’s relationship with the central government has continued to deteriorate ahead of the historic independence referendum. The Catalan bid for independence has become Spain’s worst constitutional crisis in 40 years. Despite Madrid’s repeated attempts to block the vote, through judicial and logistical means, Catalan officials insist the vote will take place, expecting an 80 percent voter turnout. On September 28, the central government seized more than six million ballots and envelopes and 100 ballot boxes in the Catalan town of Igualada. On the same day, between 16,000 and 80,000 university and high school students gathered in the center of Barcelona to march in favour of the vote, and thousands more rallied elsewhere in Catalonia. Other large rallies have been held elsewhere by a number of pro-independence groups over the weekend.  According to recent polls, although less than half of the Catalan population is in favor of independence, the large majority wants the right to vote.

Advice

Individuals in Spain, particularly in Catalonia, are advised to keep abreast of the situation and to avoid all gatherings as a precaution due to the risk of associated unrest and possible violence.