Last-minute preparations have been taking place in Catalonia in readiness for a high turnout in Sunday’s informal referendum on a breakaway from Spain.<br /><br />The ballot asks people whether they would like a vote on self-determination, and if so, whether they would like an independent Catalonia.<br /><br />Outside the Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona nationalists have been canvassing.<br /><br />“We are trying to convince doubtful voters that they should go and vote. Whether they vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’, doesn’t matter. We want Sunday to be a historic day. We want people to be happy and to vote without fear,” said Ignasi Masip, spokesman for the Catalan National Assembly (ANC).<br /><br />Pro-nationalist sentiment is strong.<br /><br />But the Citizens’ Party, strongly opposed to independence, has accused the Catalan president of trying to make people believe it was a real vote.<br /><br />“Cardboard boxes and ballot papers do not necessarily mean democracy. In this case, they are trying to simulate democracy. So, I am inviting Artur Mas to call for elections if he really wants people to vote,” said the Citizens’ Party leader Albert Rivera.<br /><br />Catalan authorities opted to hold the symbolic poll after plans for a formal referendum were blocked by Spain’s Constitutional Court.<br /><br />The prime minister has called for renewed dialogue and a “return to sanity”.<br /><br />“National sovereignty will be safe as long as I am prime minister and no one will break Spain’s unity as long as I am prime minister,” Mariano Rajoy told supporters. <br /><br />Scuffles broke out on Saturday in Barcelona’s St James’ (Sant Jaume) Square between rival supporters of independence and Spanish unity.<br /><br />Amid such passions, Madrid continues to argue the vote carries no weight, while Catalan nationalists insist it cannot be ignored.
