Catalan independence referendum 'is a sad time for Spain'

The Spanish government says it won't talk to Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, over the region's demands for independence.

It's after Mr Puigdemont said he expected the result from the referendum to be applied in the next few days.

But many people in the rest of Spain, like Madrid resident Pablo Rodriguez, say the whole process was illegal.

"Among my friends in Madrid, we all are sad," he tells Newsbeat, reflecting on events in Catalonia.

"It's a sad time for Spain," he says.

Pablo is a doctor who was born and brought up in Madrid, but has family in Catalonia and in its biggest city Barcelona.

"What is most sad for me is the division between people and places that's been generated - some of it on half-truths or lies," he says.

He is blaming the government for the mess and is calling for a total shake-up of leadership.

"I think the Spanish President Mariano Rajoy and the Catalan President Carles Puigdemont are responsible," he says.

"Their behaviour has been reckless and they should resign. Our political leaders should open a dialogue immediately, right now."

Pablo says he was disappointed and shocked to see the violence during voting on Sunday.

Nearly 900 people were hurt as police tried to enforce a Spanish court order suspending the vote, which the government had declared illegal.

"The referendum was kind of a joke. With all my respect to those who went to vote, it was an illegal referendum with no guarantees. It was organised by independentists, led by independentists, made for independentists," says Pablo.

But despite that, Pablo admits that there might be a time where a proper referendum could be held.

"We have to assume that maybe in the near future we should hold a true and fair independence referendum in Catalonia with all the guarantees of law," he says.

Carles Puigdemont, 54, began his political career in 2006 after being a journalist since 1981

Pablo thinks all Spanish people are better united though after violence at the weekend.

In the meantime, he says things need to improve.

"All nationalisms are selfish, the way they are discriminatory towards those who don't think like them. They tear people apart and they poison."

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