TheCable

After two years of political jostling and legal dealings, Catalans have finally decided to go the way of Scotland by conducting an informal referendum for independence.

Over the past few months, Catalans have traded insults and legal manoeuvres with the Spanish government, which has continuously denied them access to the polls on independence, but the Catalans regardless take to the polls.

Although in September, the constitutional court in Spain ruled that the vote for independence was illegal, the Catalans on Sunday took to the polls, defying the injunctions of the Spanish government.

Polling stations opened at 9am in Catalonia, a regional government spokesman confirmed, saying its police force would not identify those working in polling stations, despite orders from Spain’s general prosecutor to do so.

More than 40,000 volunteers have been enlisted to man ballot boxes in more than 900 towns in the region as separatists suggest that this would increase the pressure on Mariano Rajoy, the prime minister, to engage in talks that could lead to the breakup of Spain after more than five centuries.

The informal ballot, which lacks legal validity, poses two questions: Do you want Catalonia to be a state? And should that state be independent?

Arthur Mas, separatists leader and regional president, aims to win a majority in favour of breaking up Spain and use that mandate to force Rajoy to the negotiation table.

Mas had earlier filed for an appeal of the constitutional court, which was thrown out by the Supreme Court, but his regional government has said it would file a suit against Spain at the international court.

In September, Scotland legally took to the polls to vote for independence, with 55 per cent of the country voting to remain in the United Kingdom, a result that led to the resignation of Alex Salmond, first minister of Scotland.