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The standoff between Spain and Catalonia over the wealthy region's bid to secede went down to the wire Thursday, as the Spanish government prepared to strip away Catalan regional powers after its separatist leader scrapped hopes of early elections that might have ended the country's worst political crisis in decades. After weeks of mounting antagonism, Catalan officials had initially indicated regional President Carles Puigdemont was preparing to announce a snap election for December — a vote that had been the Spanish government's idea as a way of ending the deadlock. But as news of Puigdemont's plan spread, angry student demonstrators waving separatist flags and calling him a traitor marched to the gates of the government palace in Barcelona. Even some of Puigdemont's political allies called him a coward for not unilaterally declaring independence in the face of Spain's resistance.
Then, in a hastily called address, Puigdemont said he had decided not to call a vote because the Spanish government did not provide enough assurance that it would suspend what he termed its "abusive" measures to assume control of Catalonia. "There is no guarantee that would justify the holding of elections," he said. The crunch will come Friday when the Spanish Senate in Madrid gives the go ahead to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's plan to use Article 155 of the country's constitution to remove or limit self-rule in Catalonia. It would be an unprecedented intervention by the central government in the affairs of one of the country's 17 autonomous regions and would likely fan the flames of Catalan revolt. "The application of Article 155 represents an aggression ... without precedent," Lluis Corominas, spokesman for Puigdemont's Democratic Party of Catalonia, told Catalan lawmakers. "Tomorrow what we will propose is that our answer to Article 155 is going forward with the mandate of the people of Catalonia."
He was referring to the sentiment among the Catalan pro-independence coalition that it has a mandate to secede unilaterally since declaring a landslide victory in a banned independence referendum earlier this month. Separatist lawmakers were set to negotiate how to make their declaration of independence during a meeting of the regional parliament on Friday, an official with the ruling coalition who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, told The Associated Press. The ruling coalition has a reputation, however, for squabbling over how to proceed on the contentious issue. At the same time, not all Catalans are keen on breaking away from Spain, with polls showing they are roughly evenly split. And while those who voted in the Oct. 1 independence referendum were overwhelmingly in favor, less than half of eligible voters went to the polls in a vote that had been outlawed by Spain's Constitutional Court and was marred by police violence trying to stop it.
In the weeks since the Oct. 1 vote, more than 1,500 businesses have moved their official headquarters out of Catalonia to ensure they could continue operating under European Union laws if Catalonia secedes. During Thursday's protest in Barcelona, not all the demonstrators were in favor of independence. Martina Gallego, 17, said that while she didn't want Catalonia to secede, she also objected strongly to how the Spanish government is treating the region. "They are taking all our rights of autonomy away," she said. "I'm not in favor of independence, but I don't think this is right." Watching the protest unfold from afar, 31 year-old Barcelona resident Emilio Verdies, lamented what he called too much complaint and too little dialogue. "Both governments, from Catalonia and Spain, should meet and try to fix the current situation," he said, adding that talks should center on Catalans' "being able to decide our future."
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Nearly 1200 companies have relocated their HQs to other parts of Spain since the referendum in Catalonia. Catalonia is an economic strong region with half a million companies acting there but this development could turn a possible secession into a fatal plight.
Nearly 1,200 firms moved their headquarters out of Catalonia
They declared independence only to suspend it a second later. I don´t think it´s a white issue, anyway.Nearly 1200 companies have relocated their HQs to other parts of Spain since the referendum in Catalonia. Catalonia is an economic strong region with half a million companies acting there but this development could turn a possible secession into a fatal plight.
Nearly 1,200 firms moved their headquarters out of Catalonia
As majority white Catalonia will stay the best part of Spain even after some companies fled the country.
They declared independence only to suspend it a second later. I don´t think it´s a white issue, anyway.Nearly 1200 companies have relocated their HQs to other parts of Spain since the referendum in Catalonia. Catalonia is an economic strong region with half a million companies acting there but this development could turn a possible secession into a fatal plight.
Nearly 1,200 firms moved their headquarters out of Catalonia
As majority white Catalonia will stay the best part of Spain even after some companies fled the country.
Looks like you have no idea of Spanish history. And your aryan nonsense is ridiculous. Romans had wealth and granted rights when aryans dwelt in primtive houses together with their cattle.They declared independence only to suspend it a second later. I don´t think it´s a white issue, anyway.Nearly 1200 companies have relocated their HQs to other parts of Spain since the referendum in Catalonia. Catalonia is an economic strong region with half a million companies acting there but this development could turn a possible secession into a fatal plight.
Nearly 1,200 firms moved their headquarters out of Catalonia
As majority white Catalonia will stay the best part of Spain even after some companies fled the country.
Like in any Mediterranean european country South is more dumb and underdeveloped as North. This happened due to historical settlement of Aryans in the North and people of color ( immigrants attracted wealthy Aryan countries ) in the South.
Spain is set to put in place measures to take direct control of Catalonia in response to the region's declaration of independence last week. On Friday, Madrid stripped Catalonia of its autonomy and removed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont from office. The temporary move will see as many as 150 of the region's ministers replaced. Some have vowed to continue to work. Mr Puigdemont and other Catalan officials may face criminal charges, a move likely to lead to huge protests.
What happens next?
Spain's central government is to take control of Catalan institutions with Spanish officials expected to be put in place in the region's ministries on Monday. Mr Puigdemont and his vice-president Oriol Junqueras have said they do not accept the move by Madrid, adding that they could only be removed from power by the citizens of Catalonia. If Mr Puigdemont and others refuse to step aside, they face possible arrest. Catalonia's regional police force, known as Mossos, whose chief was dismissed last week, are deployed in Sant Jaume square, near the government palace in the centre of Barcelona.
Mr Puigdemont has urged "democratic opposition" to direct rule from Madrid
Spain's Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis has said he expects the officers to "act professionally". Spain's chief prosecutor has also been preparing criminal charges against any officials considered to have acted against Spanish law in declaring independence following a referendum deemed illegal under the Spanish constitution. Meanwhile, Madrid has called for fresh regional elections on 21 December. Mr Puigdemont could run in new elections, according to Mr Dastis, but only if the sacked Catalan leader has not been jailed.
What about Catalonia's autonomy?
On Sunday, Mr Dastis told Sky News: "We are not taking autonomy away from Catalonia. We are just re-establishing it, in fact." He added: "Reality is already sinking in, will continue sinking in and they will realise that they cannot do something without the authority of law and they will be usurping authority." Meanwhile, Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido has written to all police officers in Catalonia asking for their loyalty as a "new era" begins in the region. He reminded members of the regional police, who are now under direct control from Madrid, of their duty to obey orders and to guarantee "the rights and liberties of all". Senior police officers have told the BBC that they have already complied with an order to remove framed photographs of Mr Puigdemont from police stations across the region.
What is the local press saying?
