A huge crowd today flooded the streets of Barcelona, claiming the right to vote for the independence of Catalonia from Spain, following the example of Scotland.

The Catalan president Artur Mas in his interview to AFP, warned Madrid that “can not block Catalonia forever to decide on the future”. “If a nation like Scotland has the right to decide on its own future, why Catalonia cannot do the same?” He wondered, by echoing the view of many supporters of independence.

Proud of their language and culture, many of the 7.5 million Catalans feel marginalized from Madrid. “The culture, language and traditions must be respected and we have seen that this is impossible within the bosom of the Spanish state, which is why we are asking for independence,” explained one student while protesting and holding the flags of Catalonia and Scotland.

Artur Mas intends to introduce in the next few days to the Catalan parliament a bill that would authorize the organization of referendums, but the conservative government of Mariano Rajoy is expected to refer the matter directly to the Constitutional Court in order to annul this law.