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This afternoon, Catalonia declared independence. At the same time, Spain invoked article 155, to strip Catalonia from its governing powers putting it under direct rule from the federal government. A vote for independence was raised in Catalonian parliament, with part of parliament leaving before the vote on independence started. The motion declaring independence was approved with 70 in favor, 10 against, and two abstentions of the normal 135 total.
From RT: https://www.rt.com/news/407956-catalan-parliament-votes-independence/
From Aljazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/catalan-parliament-begins-vote-independence-171027115908493.html
From BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41780116
It will be interesting to see how things unfold. In my opinion, Madrid using violence to stop a referendum gave it the legality they later claim the referendum didn't have. The lack of dialogue paved the way into the only possible outcome, Catalonia declaring independence and Madrid denying it. Whatever happens next, I hope will be peaceful. As to how the EU reacts, I'm hoping they ask for an official referendum, and whatever the outcome, pledges that both Catalonia and Spain will be able to remain in the EU if they desire. That may release tensions a bit.
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 28 2017, @02:10AM (3 children)
http://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2017/10/28/59f3b4f146163f03158b460a.html [elmundo.es] Oops! Puigdemont forgot to tell him he must stay because they are all independent and make their own laws as they want. Or just ignore them. Whatever is needed to reach the promised land. /s
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Saturday October 28 2017, @03:17AM (2 children)
Um, I have little idea what this article is about since I don't read Spanish. I tried Google Translate, but it really wasn't much help: I can't figure out if this guy is Catalan or non-Catalan, and if he's resigning from the national legislature or the Catalan one. I take it from your tone that he's a Catalan parliament member, but I'm not entirely sure.
(Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 28 2017, @04:04AM (1 child)
He is the police director, Mossos d'Escuadra is the Catalonian police. Central government fired the Govern, of which he was part. Parlament chamber got dissolved as law dictates to proceed with new elections, but he is not a member. Non independentists MPs also lost their chairs in the Parlament, as it always happens in the count down to elections.
http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2017/10/27/59f33d27e5fdeac54b8b4647.html [elmundo.es] President of Govern, fired. Other Govern members (heads of local Deparments), fired. President and Vicepresident Offices, dissolved. Transition Council created by independentists, dissolved. Diplocat and other PR offices outside Catalonia (embassies as independentists prefer to call them, no country accepted them as that, project as such started in 2012), closed except the ones in Brussels and Madrid; in those two places just the directors are fired. Tasks will be performed by/directed from equivalent central Ministries/Deparments as needed will all the lower bureaucracy stays, no new Govern will be set until voting takes place.
Mossos still stay in place. But the measures approved under 155 allow Policia/Guardia Civil to be called and replace Mossos if they don't obey orders. They were caught sneaking papers to be burnt, and judges had to push to keep them as they don't believe they were just old papers and want to be sure they are not recent. Yet no charges so far.
Things will be applied on a case-by-case way, the 155 approval included that condition.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 29 2017, @03:50AM
Other reports say Rajoy specifically sacked Soler and another police official:
( http://www.ktxs.com/news/world/catalan-police-chief-sacked-as-madrid-takes-steps-to-impose-direct-rule/647048490 [ktxs.com] )
( http://daily-sun.com/post/264613/Catalonia-independence:-Spain-takes-charge-of-Catalan-government [daily-sun.com] )