People wave “estelada” or pro independence flags outside the Palau Generalitat in Barcelona, Spain, after Catalonia’s regional parliament passed a motion with which they say they are establishing an independent Catalan Republic, Friday, Oct. 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
BARCELONA, Spain — Not everyone in Catalonia is pleased with their regional government’s vote to declare independence from Spain.
Hundreds of people against independence marched Friday night in downtown Barcelona, waving Spanish flags.
In response to the Catalan move, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says his government is firing Catalonia’s regional government, dissolving its parliament and calling for a new regional election on Dec. 21.
Miquel Iceta, the leader of Catalonia’s Socialists, welcomed Rajoy’s announcement of a new election. In a tweet, he says “In the most sad day due to a wrong and irresponsible decision by the separatists, we see a ray of light.”
Italy’s foreign minister says his country “does not and will not” recognize Catalonia’s unilateral proclamation of independence.
Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, in a statement on Friday, firmly condemned the Catalonia regional parliament’s declaration, calling it “a very serious gesture that is outside the framework of the law.”
At the same time, Alfano said he hoped the two sides could hold a dialogue “to save the people from an escalation in tensions.”
In a square outside the government palace in Barcelona, an announcer told the crowd that Rajoy is firing Catalonia’s regional government, dissolving its parliament and calling for a new regional election on Dec. 21.
The news was greeted with loud jeers and whistles.
Still, the thousands who came to celebrate Catalonia’s independence declaration didn’t let the Spanish countermove disrupt the festive mood. A band took to the stage immediately after the announcement and the crowd once more began singing and dancing to the music.
The crowd in Sant Jaume Square shouted “we are not moving!”