Catalan Parliament Declares Independence From Spain

Catalonia’s regional parliament has declared independence from Spain in a 70-10 vote—a move that escalates tensions for the autonomous region and will likely be declared illegal by Spain’s constitutional court. The motion itself calls for starting the independence process and reopening negotiations “on equal footing” with Spain. Legislators from several parties, including the People’s Party, the Socialist Party, and Ciudadanos reportedly left the chamber in protest before the vote took place.