BARCELONA: Catalan separatists were determined Saturday to press ahead with an independence referendum banned by Madrid, having occupied dozens of schools designated as polling stations to stop police from closing them down.

“In these hugely intense and hugely emotional moments, we sense that what we once thought was only a dream is within reach,” Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont told a crowd of cheering supporters on Friday evening, as he closed his campaign for Sunday’s vote.

Premium + Digital Edition

Ad-free access


P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
  • Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
  • Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)

TRY FREE FOR 14 DAYS
See details
See details