'We MUST vote' Pep Guardiola joins protestors in huge rally for Catalan independence
THOUSANDS of demonstrators descended on Barcelona today in a massive celebration after Catalonia set a date for an independence referendum.
Pep Guardiola gives powerful speech for Catalan independence
Huge crowds of people waved Catalan separatist flags, known as 'Esteladas', during the gathering this weekend.
Even Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made an appearance for the massive protest, where it is believed some 40,000 people attended.
Pep Guardiola has been a long supporter of Catalan independence
Speaking to the masses from the steps of Montjuïc, the former Barcelona manager said: “We have tried on 18 occasions to reach an agreement on a referendum and the answer has always been no.
“We have no other option but to vote. We call on the international community to support us and on democrats the world over to help us to defend the rights that are threatened in Catalonia, such as the right of freedom of expression and the right to vote.”
Spain’s Constitutional Court has ruled that a Catalonia independence referendum would be against the law.
A referendum for Catalan independence is due to be held in October
But Carles Puigdemont, leader of the regional government, defied Madrid on Friday by setting a date for the vote on October 1.
Carme Forcadell, the leader of the Catalan parliament, received a huge ovation at the Barcelona rally when she said: “There is no Plan B, the only way forward is a referendum”.
But Spain’s deputy prime minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said: “They can announce a referendum as many times as they want … but the referendum is not going to take place.
Vast crowds demand Catalan independence from Spain
We call on the international community to support us and on democrats the world over to help us to defend the rights that are threatened in Catalonia
Another minister dismissed it as “a new step in a strategy that’s leading nowhere”.
Under Article 155 of Spain's constitution, Madrid has the power to intervene directly in the running of Catalonia's regional government, forcing it to drop the vote and obey the law.
This could involve sending in the police or suspending the regional government's ruling authority in the industrial region, which has its own language and capital city Barcelona.
Huge crowds of people waved Catalan separatist flags, known as Esteladas
Pep Guardiola said demonstrators 'have no other option but to vote'
However this is widely seen as a last resort move, however.
The latest regional government poll found that 73 percent of Catalans were in favour of holding a referendum similar to the one held by Scotland in 2014.
But the same poll found that 48.5 percent of respondents opposed independence, with 44.3 percent in favour.