Was the election they had a fair election? I think so but I’m not sure. I don’t think Madrid “authorized” it, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t fair.
The election was disputed by national police here and there but it came off well enough.
Those opposed to independence didn’t show up for the most part and of those who showed to vote (43 percent turnout) the vote was 90 percent for independence and 10 percent against.
Nigel Farage observed that public opinion in Catalonia was split on the issue, but he thinks the crackdown by the police at polling stations with 900 injured on October 1st probably added support to the independence side.
He expressed shock at the notion that police would try to stop people from participating in an election.