The parliament of the Spanish state of Catalonia voted to declare its independence from Spain in a largely symbolic gesture that initiates the process of bringing a referendum on the matter of Catalonian independence in the near future.
The measure passed the Catalonian parliament overwhelmingly, 85-41 with two abstentions. Spain will use its sovereign powers in the European legal system and elsewhere to block any potential moves by the state of Catalonia towards actual independence, a transition Madrid vehemently opposes.
While Catalonians are divided on the subject of independence, they are firmly against independence for Catalonia outside of the European Union (EU).
