The Catalan parliament has declared independence from Spain on Friday, even as Madrid's senate passed a motion to place the region under direct role, plunging the divided country into political turmoil.
The vote in parliament was a secret ballot and lawmakers were called up one by one to place their paper vote in a transparent ballot box.
Opposition lawmakers had walked out of the chamber ahead of Friday's vote in protest. Secessionists hold a slim majority in the parliament.
Minutes after the vote in Barcelona, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy appealed for calm and vowed to restore legal order to the devolved region. He also announced that a cabinet meeting would be held at 6pm BST.
Meanwhile, thousands of pro-independence activists cheered in Barcelona as the Catalan parliament result was announced.
Watching proceedings in parliament on two large screens, they clapped and shouted "independence" in Catalan before singing the regional hymn, many raising their fists.

How will the Spanish government react?

The vote came as Mr Rajoy asked the senate to approve Spanish government’s request for “exceptional measures” to impose direct rule on Catalonia following its referendum on independence.
“Exceptional measures should only be adopted when there is no other possible remedy,” Mr Rajoy said on Friday morning, adding that “no government of any country could look the other way” while its democratic rule of law was being violated.
With Mr Rajoy’s Popular Party having a majority in the chamber, the senate will approve the first-ever application of Article 155 of the Spanish constitution on Friday afternoon, meaning the government of Catalan President Carles Puigdemont could be removed from power on Saturday.
The ruling Catalan coalition Junts pel Si (Together for Yes) and their allies of the far-left CUP party have submitted a proposal to the parliament that would "establish the Catalan Republic as an independent and sovereign state of democratic and social rule of law."
Mr Puigdemont declared that Catalonia had a mandate to secede from Spain on October 10, but the parliament did not vote on a formal proclamation.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/27/spanish-government-demands-special-powers-could-remove-catalan/

it's self declaration my friend. it changes nothing. It's illegal!

Congrats

very disappointing of the spanish government, i expected such a behaviour frm the nigerian government and not also from them, it was heart breaking to see the way the spanish army were treating the catalan citizens during the riot that broke out when the first referendum voting took place, they were even pulling the hairs of some catalonian women and beating them up like animals nd criminals for seeking freedom which is part of there fundamental human right...same is happening to biafrans with the nigerian army, the UN and other top countries need to look into this cases, i wonder what makes one a criminal for seeking freedom from the hands of there government...person say him no wan do business with you again, shey you go force am with gun?