Catalans vote for independence but Spain imposes rule/2017

Catalans vote for independence but Spain imposes rule



Spain is on the brink of descending into violence as Madrid dissolved the Catalan parliament and called a snap election after imposing direct rule on the region when it finally declared independence.



Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy tonight sacked the Catalan government along with the region's police chief and ordered elections for December 21 after a special Cabinet meeting to discuss Spain's response to the crisis. 



The firing of the regional leaders is likely to meet with fierce opposition in Catalonia, where thousands have been celebrating the independence declaration.



Violence flared on the streets of Barcelona tonight as furious unionists attacked Catalan radio, blaming journalists there for causing the independence declaration with their ‘fake news’.



Terrified journalists barricades themselves in the building as baying crowds tried to break in, shouting obscenities.



The declaration of independence was criticised by world leaders including Theresa May, who tonight said Britain 'will not recognise' Catalan independence as it was based on an 'illegal' vote.



Germany, France and the USA also tonight said they will not recognise it either and nor will the EU but its President Donald Tusk warned Spain against violence.



In contrast, Scotland's SNP government said that it 'respects and understands' Catalonia's vote for independence, and said Catalans 'must have the ability to determine their own future'.



Spain's top prosecutor has warned that those responsible for the vote could face treason charges and up to 25 years in jail, with arrests planned for as early as Monday.



This evening, Spain's king, Felipe VI, who has spoken out firmly against Catalan independence in the past, cleared his diary for the week in order to focus on dealing with the crisis.



Rajoy said yesterday he intends to call elections in the region within six months of taking control. 



The Spanish senate voted to impose direct rule on the region just 40 minutes after the Catalan parliament backed independence.



But before the vote in Barcelona, opposition parties stormed out of parliament in protest - with pro-independence MPs draping their empty seats with Catalan flags. 





Catalan President Carles Puigdemont could face treason charges as early as Monday, Spain's prosecutor announced today - speaking under condition of anonymity in line with internal rules.



Independence was approved with 70 MPs in favour, 10 against and two blank ballots in the 135-member parliament.



Spain's constitutional court has started a review of the vote held in Catalonia's parliament to declare independence, with the state prosecutor and other parties given three days to make allegations of wrongdoing.



After the vote, Puigdemont said: 'Today our legitimate parliament, that came out of a democratic election, has taken a very important step. The legitimate representative of the citizens have followed the people's mandate.



'Now we are facing times when we will need to keep calm and peaceful and always keep dignity, as we've always done. Long live Catalonia!'



Pro-independence groups have vowed a campaign of civil disobedience to protect public buildings on the event of a crackdown by Madrid, which may involve the feared national riot police and even the army.       



Thousands of Catalans gathered outside the parliament building and cheered and danced after the motion passed.



Some celebrated by drinking Cava, the sparkling wine produced in Catalonia, and hugged each other. 



The Spanish prime minister wrote on Twitter immediately after the vote: 'I ask all Spaniards to remain calm. The rule of law will restore legality in Catalonia.'



After the vote in Barcelona, MPs stood to chant the Catalan anthem while Puigdemont and his vice president, Oriol Junqueras, exchanged congratulatory embraces and handshakes.



Puigdemont added in his remarks after the vote: 'It is the institutions and also the people who have to work together to help build a country, a society…'



Reacting to the crisis, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned of 'more cracks' emerging in the EU.



The European Union will only deal with the central government in Madrid, according to the president of the European Council Donald Tusk.



'For EU nothing changes. Spain remains our only interlocutor. I hope the Spanish government favours force of argument, not argument of force,' Tusk wrote on Twitter.



Antonio Tajani, who was appointed President of the European Parliament earlier this year, was similarly scathing, saying 'nobody' in the EU would recognise Catalonia as an independent country.



Germany said it supported the Spanish government in its dispute with separatists in Catalonia and hoped both sides would de-escalate the situation through dialogue.