WEDNESDAY'S Supreme Court ruling to block indyref2 has elicited a wide range of reactions across the UK, from Unionist relief to abject disappointment among Yessers.
However the importance of the event was such that interest was not limited to Britain – the world was watching to take note of how democracy operates in the UK.
Here’s a round-up of how some of the biggest media outlets across the globe reacted to the news.
The New York Times
While describing the decision as a “blow” to “independence-minded Scots”, the paper was clear that it was unlikely to halt the larger independence movement.
Their article read: “But the setback for those advocating Scotland’s separation is unlikely to stop the independence movement, which has gained momentum since Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016. Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said that the ruling underscored the need for Edinburgh to break free of being ruled from London.”
It later noted the “deterioration” of the UK economy, the unpopularity of Brexit and consecutive Tory prime ministers as factors that could “feed the desire of Scots to break away”.
Le Monde
The French publication stressed that the independence debate had been “revived” by Brexit and that Scotland being dragged out of the EU had “changed the situation”.
The paper also said that the ultimate objective for the SNP was for Scotland to “rejoin the European Union as an independent state”.
Assessing the future implications of the decision, the paper referenced Nicola Sturgeon’s plans to hold the next General Election as a de-facto referendum which “must be held by January 2025”.
Die Zeit
With a headline roughly translated as “she doesn’t want to give up”, the German paper wrote that it was time for Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP to “try another way” in achieving independence following the Supreme Court decision.
Quoting the First Minister as saying the news was a “hard pill to swallow”, the paper stated that the “dream of a referendum on Scotland’s independence next year is over”.
The Washington Post
Similar to Die Ziet, The Washington Post noted that hopes for a referendum next year had been “dashed”.
On the wider context of the independence debate, the article stated that the situation had been “complicated” by Scotland voting against Brexit but that there was no appetite to allow another referendum from the Conservative Party.
Regarding plans for a de-facto referendum, the paper concluded by saying it “remains unclear” as to how “exactly that would work”.
READ MORE: Gallery: Independence demonstrations pop up across Europe
The Irish Times
In an editorial giving the paper’s view on the decision, it was stated that the Supreme Court’s ruling had “opened up a whole new political phase of this momentous question for the UK’s future”.
It was also said that the move for a de-facto referendum “expresses the SNP’s gradualist approach to independence”, while noting it was a “difficult path” under Sturgeon’s “cautious leadership”.
Reflecting on what the ruling and the wider independence debate could mean for Irish unity, the article read: “Whichever way Scotland goes has large implications for Ireland, north and south. A shift towards independence could bolster debates on Irish unity – or away from it towards deepening existing structures on this island.”
El Pais
The Spanish publication said that the judgment had “thrown a jug of cold water” over the Scottish Government’s independence plans, while stating it had given a “clear and final” decision on whether a referendum would be held in the next few years.
While Keir Starmer has repeatedly ruled this out, the article also speculated that the Labour party could agree to another independence referendum if Labour need votes at the next General Election.
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