Catalan separatists danced as speakers blasted "Invincible! Invincible!" after pro-independence groups won a regional election framed as a referendum on independence from Spain.
"I can't believe it, my heart is racing!" said Claudia Cardona after a giant TV screen set up in a central Barcelona square announced the win.
Cardona, who wore a t-shirt with a "estelada", a Catalan separatist flag with a lone white star against red and yellow stripes, just turned 18 and she voted for the first time in her life.
She cast her ballot for the pro-independence Together For Yes group which will hold an absolute majority in the Catalan parliament if it teams up with the radical left-wing, secessionist CUP party.
"With this result we can start a process of negotiation that leads to Catalonia becoming its own state," said Cardona, a translation student who specialises in English and Arabic, as the crowd around her chanted "Independence! Independence!".
The Together For Yes group has vowed to go ahead with a "road map" to set up an independent Catalan state within 18 months, despite fierce opposition from Madrid, a pledge it made before the election that it said it would implement if it won.
Supporters of the alliance were gathered outside the Mercat del Born, a former market hall in Barcelona that now houses a museum and cultural centre built around the ruins of the 1714 siege of the city during the War of Spanish Succession.
For Catalan nationalists the defeat at the hands of Felipe V's troops marked the end of their regions freedom and the beginning of their domination by Madrid.
They chanted "President! President!" when Catalonia's nationalist regional president Artur Mas, who called the early election, took the stage.
"We have won. This is a victory of yes and a victory for democracy," he bellowed.
'No turning back'
The crowd, which included retired couples, large groups of friends, and families with young children in tow, danced while speakers blasted "Invincible! Invincible!" throughout the building.
"It's great, indescribable, sublime," said Arnau Font, an 18-year-old advertising student who came from Girona, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Barcelona, for the celebration.
"It is very motivating, encouraging, because it clearly shows that the people of Catalonia want independence," he added.
"I want us to separate from Spain because as long as I can remember all we get are attacks, threats, like these latest ones over our exit from the euro, or about the banks."
Spanish officials warned in the lead up to Sunday's vote that Catalans would be stripped of their nationality and could plunge into financial chaos like Greece if they break away.
Font was surrounded by a sea of Catalan separatist flags, while the flags of other separatist regions like Canada's Quebec, France's Brittany and Spain's Basque Country could also be seen.
The crowd later went silent as people, some in tears, began to sing "Els Segadors", Catalonia's anthem, as journalists from around the world who flocked to Barcelona to cover the vote watched from a podium.
Many in the crowd were decked out in separatist paraphernalia.
Loli Dominguez, a 52-year-old housewife, wore a watch, necklace, bracelet, hat and earrings decorated with the colours of the Catalan separatist flag.
Even the umbrella she brought because of the threat of rain that never fell had the red and yellow separatist flag.
"Independence will be done by the people of Catalonia, it doesn't matter if Madrid recognises it or not," said Dominguez, who migrated to Catalonia from the western region of Extremadura over 30 years ago.
"I left because there were no opportunities for me there and this is my home now."
At times the crowd broke out into chants of "Independence! Independence!" and took photos of the scene which they promptly posted on social networking sites.
"This is a process, a road," said Albert Llorenc, a 51-year-old taxi driver who wore a "barretina", a traditional Catalan red cap.
"Now there is no turning back."
AFP
Mon Sep 28 2015
!['Invincible! Invincible!': Catalan separatists celebrate poll win 'Invincible! Invincible!': Catalan separatists celebrate poll win](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-09/71443404806_SpainElection.jpg)
Catalonian pro-independence supporters celebrate in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday Sept. 27, 2015. - AP Photo/Francisco Seco
![RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/81678788517_MahkamahUtama.jpg)
RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan
Apa sahaja pindaan terhadap akta itu perlu berjalan selari dengan persediaan mereka yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakannya.
![Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-03/81646741163_DatukWilliamNg.jpg)
Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA
SAMENTA menjangkakan rasionalisasi RON95 akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) berbanding pelarasan subsidi diesel.
![Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/71694910732_DatukArthurJoseph.jpg)
Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030
Malaysia menyasarkan pengeluaran 40 peratus hasil sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 dalam usaha membantu mengimbangi keperluan perikanan negara.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
![Penenun dari Sarawak tidak sangka dapat ke Barcelona dengan songket tenunannya Penenun dari Sarawak tidak sangka dapat ke Barcelona dengan songket tenunannya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/41709218273_RamtiniwaitiRamlee.jpg)
Penenun dari Sarawak tidak sangka dapat ke Barcelona dengan songket tenunannya
Ramtiniwaiti Ramlee, 38, bangga apabila mendapat jemputan daripada Nadi untuk mewakili negara di ibu kota wilayah Catalonia.
![Barcelona jadi tumpuan 100,000 pemain industri teknologi global pada MWC 2024 Barcelona jadi tumpuan 100,000 pemain industri teknologi global pada MWC 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/81708781816_MobilWorldCongress.jpg)
Barcelona jadi tumpuan 100,000 pemain industri teknologi global pada MWC 2024
Barcelona akan menyaksikan ratusan perbincangan, rangkaian, forum dan demonstrasi untuk mereka yang terlibat dalam teknologi mudah alih pada MWC 2024.
![Barisan kejurulatihan Harimau Malaya buat lawatan teknikal ke Sepanyol Barisan kejurulatihan Harimau Malaya buat lawatan teknikal ke Sepanyol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/51682431380_FootballAssociation.jpg)
Barisan kejurulatihan Harimau Malaya buat lawatan teknikal ke Sepanyol
Kunjungan tersebut memberi peluang buat mereka menyaksikan sesi latihan pasukan utama FC Barcelona dan melawat fasiliti latihan kelab berkenaan.
![Shakira 'diserang' babi hutan ketika berjalan bersama anak di Barcelona Shakira 'diserang' babi hutan ketika berjalan bersama anak di Barcelona](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-10/81633066875_TBSHAKIRAjpg.jpg)
Shakira 'diserang' babi hutan ketika berjalan bersama anak di Barcelona
Shakira merupakan mangsa terkini tabiat agresif babi hutan yang semakin 'menakluki' bandar raya itu.
![UCL: Pemain Barcelona lain akan menyerlah tanpa Messi - Nagelsmann UCL: Pemain Barcelona lain akan menyerlah tanpa Messi - Nagelsmann](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-09/41631000271_LionelMessi.jpg)
UCL: Pemain Barcelona lain akan menyerlah tanpa Messi - Nagelsmann
Nagelsmann tidak percaya perpindahan Messi ke PSG sama sekali akan melemahkan Barca memandangkan masih ramai lagi pemain berkaliber.
![Lionel Messi kini ejen bebas Lionel Messi kini ejen bebas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/81625119369_LaLigaSantander.jpg)
Lionel Messi kini ejen bebas
Kontrak pemain itu berakhir semalam, di tengah spekulasi mahu meninggalkan Camp Nou yang dia panggil rumah sejak tahun 2000.
![Kumpulan raver Barcelona nikmati muzik acara disko senyap, tetap jaga penjarakan fizikal Kumpulan raver Barcelona nikmati muzik acara disko senyap, tetap jaga penjarakan fizikal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/71616565936_ravers.jpg)
Kumpulan raver Barcelona nikmati muzik acara disko senyap, tetap jaga penjarakan fizikal
Para penggemar muzik itu menyambut hari pertama musim bunga dengan memakai set fon kepala seterusnya memulakan aksi gerak tari masing-masing.
![Salah mahu kekal di Liverpool selama mungkin Salah mahu kekal di Liverpool selama mungkin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/51611031411_mosalah.jpg)
Salah mahu kekal di Liverpool selama mungkin
Penyerang itu masih mempunyai kontrak bersama Liverpool sehingga 2023.
![Pelumba pasukan Petronas Yamaha SRT tekad bangkit cemerlang di Catalunya GP Pelumba pasukan Petronas Yamaha SRT tekad bangkit cemerlang di Catalunya GP](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-09/51600936877_TBPETRONASYAMAHASE.jpg)
Pelumba pasukan Petronas Yamaha SRT tekad bangkit cemerlang di Catalunya GP
Quartararo yakin untuk sekali lagi mempamerkan persembahan memberangsangkan.
![Messi ke Bayern? Kami tak mampu dapatkannya - Rummenigge Messi ke Bayern? Kami tak mampu dapatkannya - Rummenigge](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2017-12/41514071737_messi.jpg)
Messi ke Bayern? Kami tak mampu dapatkannya - Rummenigge
Messi, 33, kelihatan akan meninggalkan skuad Blaugrana itu selepas 19 tahun bersama kelab berkenaan.