Spain To Suspend Catalonia Leader, Impose Direct Rule On Region

Spain’s government said Saturday that it has outlined plans to remove Catalonia’s leaders and take control of the separatist region, in a bid to end calls for independence.

Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, said his government has been left with no other choice than to call for fresh elections in the region.

Advertisement

According to him, Catalonia leaders acted in a way that was “unilateral, contrary to the law and seeking confrontation” in holding a banned independence referendum.

This will be via Article 155 of Spain’s constitution, which allows it to impose direct rule in any of the country’s semi-autonomous regions hit with crisis. Spanish law dictates that elections must be held within six months of Article 155 being triggered.

Pending senate approval next week, the government of Carles Puigdemont will be stripped of its powers, with its functions assumed by the relevant ministries in Madrid. Early elections in Catalonia would then be held within six months, Rajoy said.

“We are not ending Catalan autonomy, but we are relieving of their duties those who have acted outside the law,” Rajoy said, without detailing which Catalan institutions would come under direct rule. It is expected that the interior ministry, and therefore the police, would be one.

 

Leave a comment

Advertisement