Spain to dismiss Catalonia's govt
Madrid's actions don't respect rule of law: Catalan leader
Spain yesterday announced that it will move to dismiss Catalonia's separatist government and call fresh elections in the semi-autonomous region in a bid to stop its leaders from declaring independence.
The drastic escalation of Spain's worst political crisis in decades will see separatist leader Carles Puigdemont and his administration stripped of their jobs, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told reporters after a crisis meeting of his cabinet.
Puigdemont's threat to declare independence "has been unilateral, contrary to the law, and seeking confrontation," said Rajoy, adding that he will seek approval from the Senate -- where his conservatives hold an absolute majority -- for permission to dissolve the Catalan parliament and call elections within six months.
In the meantime, the jobs of Puigdemont and his team will be carried out by Spain's national ministers, Rajoy said.
Puigdemont was due to respond at 9:00pm. In Barcelona, independence supporters took to their balconies banging their pots and pans in protest at Rajoy's decision.
Home to 7.5 million people, the northeastern region fiercely defends its language and culture and enjoys control over its policing, education and healthcare.
In a crisis that has rattled stock markets and worried a European Union that is already struggling with Brexit, Catalonia held a banned independence referendum on October 1, with Puigdemont threatening to declare a breakaway state based on its results.
Under Article 155 of Spain's constitution, Madrid enjoys powers to wrest back control of rebellious regions, but it has never used them before.
Rajoy said,"We are applying Article 155 because the government of a democratic country cannot accept that the law is ignored."
The Spanish government's actions do not respect the rule of law, Catalonia's leader said yesterday.
They are "incompatible with a democratic attitude and do not respect the rule of law," Carles Puigdemont said in a televised announcement, calling on the Catalan parliament to meet over the crisis.