People holding Esteladas (Pro-independence Catalan flag) gather outside the Catalan parliament in Barcelona on October 27, 2017, during a plenary session to vote on a motion on declaring independence from Spain. Catalonia's parliament voted to declare independence from Spain and proclaim a republic, just as Madrid is poised to impose direct rule on the region to stop it in its tracks. A motion declaring independence was approved with 70 votes in favour, 10 against and two abstentions, with Catalan opposition MPs walking out of the 135-seat chamber before the vote in protest at a declaration unlikely to be given official recognition. [Photo/VCG]