The Catalan parliament on Friday voted to declare Independent from Spain just as the Spanish government in Madrid are preparing to impose direct federal government administration over the region.
The decision of the parliament brings to an end the period of uncertainty over which the direction the Catalan region is headed following the result of the referendum held earlier this month.
he move was was backed 70-10 in a ballot boycotted by opposition MPs.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy earlier told senators direct rule was needed to return “law, democracy and stability” to Catalonia.
The crisis began when Catalans backed independence in a disputed vote earlier this month.
The Catalan government said that of the 43% who took part in the referendum, 90% were in favour of independence. But Spain’s Constitutional Court had ruled the vote illegal.
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.
With agency report
More to follow…