Catalonia Declared Independence For Just Six Seconds And Now People Are Confused
"Independence! ... No, sorry, I meant to say Moonlight."
By Kassy Cho
Reporting From
Barcelona, Spain
On Tuesday, the President of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, made an address to the region's parliament in Barcelona saying that it had won the right to be independent from Spain.
Puigdemont's address comes after the results of a disputed referendum earlier this month that saw the region — which has been living in relative autonomy for the last nearly half-century — vote overwhelmingly in favor of leaving Spain.
The results of the referendum were, however, skewed, as the Spanish government in Madrid had declared it illegal and put a ban on voting, which resulted in clashes between Spanish police and Catalan voters.
However, a few seconds after seeming to declare Catalonian independence, Puigdemont immediately suspended it "for a few weeks, to open a period of dialogue."
People were very confused.
Los compañeros de la prensa extranjera. #confusing #10Oct #Catalonia
"The foreign press right now."
Cuando te dicen que han declarado la Independencia pero no la ves por ningún lado. #10oct
"When they tell you they have declared independence but you don't see it anywhere."
They compared Catalonia's short-lived independence to a scene from the Simpsons.
La independencia de Cataluña. #10Oct
"Catalonian independence."
And Puigdemont's address to a notable plot twist in recent history.
¡Independencia!... No, perdón, quería decir Moonlight #10Oct
"Independence! ... No, sorry, I meant to say Moonlight."
A lot of people thought Puigdemont was a giant troll.
Resumen #10Oct
From left: "Dialogue, Puigdemont, Unilateral declaration of independence."
Harry Potter ensayando el hechizo "Independencium Interruptus". #10Oct
"Harry Potter practicing the spell of 'Independence Interruptus.'"
Y con esto os doy mis buenas noches 😂#10Oct #Puigdemont
"And with this, I bid you good night."
Aquesta és bona #10Oct
"This is good."
And knew exactly what was going on between Barcelona — Catalonia's capital and largest city — and Madrid.
Diálogo. #11Oct
Madrid - Barcelona right now #Catalonia #10Oct
Others made sure to memorialize Catalonia's six seconds of independence.
Somebody was quick... #10Oct
Several tweets with two Reuters photos showing the same woman's reaction to the independence declaration and its subsequent suspension also went viral.
Photo #1: Catalonia has won right to independence. Photo #2: But let’s suspend declaration of Independence.… https://t.co/6CTp1gvsb2
And she quickly became an extremely relatable meme.
Cuando compras la independencia por Aliexpress vs Cuando te llega a casa #10Oct #Parlament #Puigdemont
"When you buy independence on Aliexpress vs. When you get home."
¿Y me he depilado para esto? #10Oct
"And I shaved for this?"
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Kassy Cho is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in London.
Contact Kassy Cho at kassy.cho@buzzfeed.com.
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