Madrid braces for Catalonia's next move

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An air of anticipation hung over the Catalan parliament on Monday (October 9), a day before a planned session that could see the region declare independence from Spain.

The national government in Madrid has made it clear it would respond immediately to such a declaration.

Catalonia is deeply divided over the issue of secession. There are mixed feelings in the Catalan capital Barcelona.

“We are not going back,” said one woman. “We have been fighting for this for 300 years.”

“I think Spain should continue to be united as it is now,” said a local man. “I understand that some people want independence but I don’t agree with the way they are doing it , I think it is not correct.”

One week after the referendum on independence which the Madrid government did its utmost to disrupt, the fraught situation has been taking its toll on some in Spain’s wealthiest region.

Catalonia’s High Court is beefing up security to prepare for a declaration of independence. Officers from Spain’s national police service have been deployed to help out for the second weekend in a row.

Barcelona mayor against unilateral independence declaration or removing Catalonia’s autonomy https://t.co/DT4NKAQjnW pic.twitter.com/irZgmXJVDE

— elnacionalcat_en (@elnacionalcatEN) October 9, 2017