As a result of the advisory 2017 Catalan independence referendum, reactions came from a multitude of avenues, including the domestic central state and other official bodies, as well as international commentary. Whilst the government and non-government community in Catalonia defended the vote, most of the international community either defended Spain's "territorial integrity" or simply criticised the central police's overhanded response. Other sub-national entities also supported Catalonia.
Domestic Catalonia Catalonian President Carles Puigdemont said he will keep his pledge to declare independence unilaterally. He added that Catalonia "has won the right to become an independent state." He further blamed the situation in Catalonia on the "intransigence, the repression, the complete denial of reality, the hostility seen during the democratic demands made by our country" and that "on this day of hope and suffering, Catalonia's citizens have earned the right to have an independent state in the form of a republic ... We have earned the right to be listened to, respected and recognised."
Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau called on Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to resign, She told TV3 that "Rajoy has been a coward, hiding behind the prosecutors and courts. Today he crossed all the red lines with the police actions against normal people, old people, families who were defending their fundamental rights. It seems obvious to me that Mariano Rajoy should resign." She added that Catalonia has "earned the right to demand" a proper vote on independence from Spain: "the European Union must take a stand on what has happened in Catalonia".
Jordi Sanchez, leader of the ANC, spoke in Barcelona's main square saying he hopes that "very soon we will see the birth of a new Catalan state." He also warned local leaders: "Now, don't let us down ... The moment of truth has arrived." Government Spokesman Jordi Turull said that Spain is "the shame of Europe" for its crackdown. He added that "what the police are doing is simply savage, it's an international scandal". The CCOO union called for a general strike on 3 October "to condemn the violence employed by security forces of the state to stop the referendum". It also called for protests on 2 October at 12:00 in front of town halls across Catalonia. Jordi Cuixart, the leader of Omnium, also urged a general strike in Catalonia on 3 October.
On 8 October 2017, Societat Civil Catalana gathered over a million people according to the organizers and the Spanish government and 350,000 people according to Barcelona police, in a rally against Catalan independence. To date this event was the largest pro-Constitution and anti-independence demonstration in the history of Catalonia.
On 12 October 2017, 65,000 people, according to the Barcelona local police, marched against independence in a smaller demonstration marking the Spanish national day. The turnout was thirteen times more than the prior year and the highest on record in Barcelona's history for this event.
On 29 October 2017, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated on the streets of Barcelona in favor of the unity of Spain and celebrating the Spanish government forcing new regional elections in December, in a demonstration called by Societat Civil Catalana. According to the Delegation of the Spanish government in Catalonia the turnout was of 1,000,000 people whereas according to the Barcelona police it was of 300,000 people. Societat Civil Catalana itself estimated the turnout at 1,000,000 people.
Central government In a televised statement, King Felipe VI said the referendum's organisers had jeopardised national stability "with their decisions, they have systematically undermined the rules approved legally and legitimately, showing an unacceptable disloyalty towards the powers of the state—a state that represents Catalan interests."
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy claimed that no referendum had been held. He also praised the police for acting with "firmness and serenity." Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said the police actions were "unfortunate" and "unpleasant" but "proportionate." He told the Associated Press, that he blamed the violence exclusively on Puigdemont and his regional government: "if people insist in disregarding the law and doing something that has been consistently declared illegal and unconstitutional, law enforcement officers need to uphold the law." In regards to the constitution MP Rafael Hernando said: "The [Article] 155 needs wide-ranging backing because we don't know whether it will resolve problems, and if it's only backed by one party in congress then it will be difficult to obtain the backing of a majority of Catalans."
PSOE's General Secretary Pedro Sánchez said that the vote "has perverted the concept of democracy" and urged central government to begin negotiations with the regional Catalan leaders. He also blamed the "serious institutional crisis" on both the central government and the regional Catalan government. He further condemned Rajoy's cabinet for ordering the police charges against voters to halt the suspended referendum, but added that he would stand by Rajoy in order to support the stability of Spain in a moment of deep crisis. He then added that the vote "consecrates the Catalan government's flight forward, creating solely division and not providing any solution."
Economy The following day the Madrid-based Ibex fell by over one percent, despite regional and global markets rising. The Euro also fell. On 4 October, after announcing its relocation to Madrid, Catalan enterprise Oryzon rose over a 20% in the Madrid Stock Exchange. One day later, Banco Sabadell agreed to move their headquarters to Alicante.
In successive days, La Caixa moved to Valencia and other enterprises left Catalonia, many of them helped by a decree of the Spanish government for easing the relocation of their registration. As of 10 October, 28 enterprises, including six of the seven Catalan enterprises that make up the index, left the region and six more companies reported it would do so if the independence of Catalonia is declared by a Unilateral declaration of independence.
As of 18 October, this number increased to 805, including companies like Codorníu Winery, established in 1551, which moved to La Rioja, or the airline Volotea, that relocated their headquarters in Asturias.
Sport FC Barcelona played their weekend La Liga match against Las Palmas behind closed doors, partially due to safety purposes, as well as in protest. During Spain national football team's training session on 2 October 2017, Piqué was the target of insults by many Spanish fans, due to his comments after Barcelona's 3–0 win over Las Palmas. The session had to be ended after just 23 minutes due to this. Barcelona captain Andrés Iniesta urged dialogue to resolve the situation. He wrote on Facebook: "I have never before publicly commented on situations that are so complex and involve such diverse emotions, but this situation we are experiencing is exceptional, one thing I know for sure: before we do any more harm, those who are responsible for all this must hold dialogue. Do it for all of us. We deserve to live in peace".
International Supranational bodies Council of Europe - Vice-President Roger Gale of the Parliamentary Assembly declared said: "It is with deep regret that I have seen the incidents of violence that have occurred in Catalonia today. I call on all sides to exercise restraint and self-discipline and to work to restore calm and reestablish dialogue." Venice Commission – The Commission said the vote "does not meet" the commission's standards for a fair referendum, as it is not recognised by the Spanish government or its constitution. Secretary General Thomas Markert did make the point of referencing the 2014 Scottish referendum, highlighting it as an example of a fair, legally-approved vote as it gained the support of the U.K. government. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) – The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) told TASS on 2 October that it would not comment on the vote because it had no observers present. Earlier, the OSCE office's director called on Spanish authorities to "ensure that police use force only when necessary and in strict adherence to the principle of proportionality." United Nations - Secretary-General António Guterres "trusts that the democratic institutions of Spain will find a solution" to the crisis between Catalan separatists and the national government." High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein voiced concern at the violence in saying police responses needed to be "at all times ...proportionate and necessary. I firmly believe that the current situation should be resolved through political dialogue, with full respect for democratic freedoms." On 7 March 2018 the High Commissioner for Human Rights said "I was dismayed by the violence which broke out during October's referendum on independence in Catalonia. Given what appeared to be excessive use of force by police, the Government's characterization of police action on 1 October as "legal, legitimate and necessary" is questionable".
European Union The European Commission suggested that the Catalan independence referendum was "not legal" under Spanish law. It described the vote as an "internal matter" and suggested it would not heed calls to intervene. A spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said: "This is an internal matter for Spain that has to be dealt with in line with the constitutional order of Spain." It issued a statement that read: "We call on all relevant players to now move very swiftly from confrontation to dialogue. Violence can never be an instrument in politics. We trust the leadership of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to manage this difficult process in full respect of the Spanish Constitution and of the fundamental rights of citizens enshrined therein. Beyond purely legal aspects, the Commission believes that these are times for unity and stability, not divisiveness and fragmentation."
President Donald Tusk later announced on Twitter that he had spoken with Rajoy and had called for a bid to find ways "to avoid further escalation and use of force." President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani confirmed a debate. He wrote on Twitter: "I spoke to Mariano Rajoy. The European Parliament will debate on constitution, rule of law and fundamental rights in Spain in light of the events in Catalonia.".
The Vice President of the European Parliament, Ramón Luis Valcárcel, described the referendum as "a coup against Europe" in a statement that read: "Today we have witnessed a nationalistic propaganda act, undemocratic; a coup attempt against Spanish democracy, and so a coup against Europe. We are witnessing the first coup against democracy in the history of the European Union. A regional government is angling, in a unilateral, illegal and democratically deplorable manner, to secede from a member state. And in so doing, it is violating the fundamental rights of millions of citizens. Spain is an integral part of the EU, which respects and safeguards the national identities and constitutional structure of its member states. An attack on the constitution of one member state is therefore also an attack on the Union as a whole." The coup d'état claim was also shared by both Spanish MEP Carlos Iturgaiz and Ambassador to the UK Carlos Bastarreche.
European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans told the European Parliament: "It is a duty for any government to uphold the rule of law, and this sometimes requires the proportionate use of force. Respect for the rule of law is not optional; it's fundamental."