An estelada flag (Catalan separatist flag) is seen through the bars of a balcony in Barcelona, Spain, October 27, 2015. (Reuters)
Catalonia's regional government today voted in favour of a resolution to split from Spain, launching a so-called roadmap towards independence which the central government in Madrid has vowed to block.
The declaration on secession, the first step which pro-independence parties hope will lead to the northeastern region splitting from Spain within 18 months, was backed by a majority in the regional parliament.
Parties favouring independence from Spain won a majority of seats in the Catalan regional election in September. The Spanish constitution does not allow any region to break away, however, and the centre-right government of Spanish premier Mariano Rajoy, facing a general election in December, has said it will immediately seek to block the resolution in the courts.
© Thomson Reuters 2015