It was the moment they had longed for.<br /><br />Thousands of independence supporters celebrated long into the night outside Catalonia’s government headquarters in Barcelona on Friday, following the unilateral declaration to split from Spain.<br /><br />Madrid’s moves to thwart the breakaway didn’t spoil the party, with Catalan flags flying and revellers singing and dancing with joy. <br /><br />But they weren’t the only ones on the streets of the Catalan capital.<br /><br />Catalonia is deeply divided and defenders of Spanish unity also marched through the streets of Barcelona.<br /><br />Several European countries, including France and Germany, and the United States have also rejected the independence declaration. <br /><br />As does Mexico whose President Enrique Pena Nieto has made clear that he will stand firmly with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.<br /><br />Mexico will not recognize Catalonia’s independence: President https://t.co/6EN7i0926s pic.twitter.com/SyPgKTTzyp— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 28 octobre 2017<br /><br />Madrid declared the referendum on October 1 illegal.<br /><br />And while that vote endorsed independence, it drew only a 43 percent turnout as Catalans who oppose a breakaway largely boycotted the ballot.<br /><br />This is Spain’s gravest political crisis since the return of democracy four decades ago and many fear it could escalate further into violence.<br /><br />with Reuters<br />
