Just outside Catalonia’s imposing 18th-century regional parliament building, a large crowd had gathered to watch the birth of a new nation. The surrounding streets were filled with thousands of armed police. The rumour was that Catalan president Carles Puigdemont was about to declare independence — and then be arrested by Spanish authorities.
Arriving a few minutes early, Mr Puigdemont walked into the parliamentary chamber to make the most important speech of his life, announcing what the region was going to do following a referendum on October 1. The vote, while illegal, had seen an overwhelming majority of participants cast their ballots in favour of breaking from Spain and forming the world’s 196th state.
But Mr Puigdemont knew that if he pushed too hard in declaring independence, Madrid could respond by suspending Catalonia’s autonomy. If he did not go far enough, the crowds outside would call him a turncoat and the radical forces in his government might abandon him.