Catalonia’s
parliament has declared independence from Spain in defiance of the Madrid
government, which at the same time was preparing to impose direct rule over the
region.
Spanish Prime
Minister Mariano Rajoy immediately called for calm and said the rule of law
would be restored. The motion passed in the regional parliament in Barcelona
which was boycotted by opposition parties said Catalonia constituted an
independent, sovereign and social democratic state. It called on other
countries and institutions to recognize it.
The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential
voters who took part in the referendum, 90% were in favour of independence. But
Spain’s Constitutional Court had ruled the vote illegal. In all, the motion
declaring independence was approved with 70 in favour, 10 against and two
abstentions in the 135-seat chamber.
Immediately
afterwards, Mr Rajoy called for all Spaniards to remain calm, promising to
“restore legality” to Catalonia. Spain’s Senate is still to vote on whether for
the first time to enact Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which empowers
the government to take “all measures necessary to compel” a region in case of a
crisis.
It
would enable Madrid to fire Catalan leaders, and take control of the region’s
finances, police and public media.
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