Mariano Rajoy said recent unofficial referendum ‘failed resoundingly’ despite 81% voting for independence

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Spain’s prime minister has visited the northern region of Catalonia 20 days after its government held an informal, non-binding poll asking residents if they favoured a split from Madrid.

Speaking at a Popular party rally held on Saturday in Barcelona, Mariano Rajoy said the unofficial referendum had “according to its own figures, failed resoundingly”.

Catalan officials said that out of 6.3 million potential voters, 2.3 million had cast ballots with most favouring secession.

Almost 81% said they wanted Catalonia to become an independent state.

Another 10% said they wanted it to become a state, but not an independent one.

Rajoy, who was surrounded by many of his cabinet ministers, said two-thirds of Catalans had not turned out to vote and that the regional government’s “international propaganda operation” had fallen apart “noiselessly and without clatter”.

Catalonia held the poll after plans to stage a proper referendum were suspended when Rajoy’s government challenged its legality in court.