SPAIN: Catalans ”not seeking traumatic split”

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has said he is not planning a “traumatic” split with Spain, after a disputed independence referendum on Sunday. He said he wanted a new understanding with the central government in Madrid. Catalan officials say voters overwhelmingly backed secession. Madrid has warned it could suspend autonomy of the wealthy north-eastern region. Officers […]

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has said he is not planning a “traumatic” split with Spain, after a disputed independence referendum on Sunday.

He said he wanted a new understanding with the central government in Madrid.

Catalan officials say voters overwhelmingly backed secession. Madrid has warned it could suspend autonomy of the wealthy north-eastern region.

Officers from the national police and paramilitary Civil Guard seized ballot papers and boxes at a number of polling stations.

More than 2.2 million people were reported to have voted, according to Catalan authorities, out of 5.3 million registered voters.

Just fewer than 90% of those who voted backed independence, they said.

A Catalan spokesman said more than 750,000 votes could not be counted because polling stations were closed and urns were confiscated. Turnout was put at 42.3%.

At a news conference on Monday, Mr Puigdemont said: “We don’t want a traumatic break… We want a new understanding with the Spanish state”.