The Spanish Central Election Commission issued a resolution on Thursday to remove all 'esteladas,' the flag which symbolizes the region's campaign for independence, from public buildings and voting stations, so as to ensure the neutrality of the election campaigning for elections to be held later this month.
The order was issued after a request from the political association Societat Civil Catalana [SCC], which is opposed to independence for the region. On May 24 Catalonians will go to the polls to vote in local and regional elections.
In response to the resolution, pro-independence parties have called on councils in the region to defy the order, and for citizens to fly the esteladas from their balconies. In its appeal, SCC reported the flying of 394 esteladas in the public areas of 323 municipalities across the region, the majority in areas such as roadways or traffic intersections.
