Spain facing ANARCHY as thousands in Catalonia ‘ready to RESIST’ Rajoy’s rule

Pro-independence supporters are enraged at the imminent loss of regional power and have planned major demonstration in Barcelona tonight “to defend rights and freedoms.” 

All of the top separatist leaders – who will be removed from officer under Mr Rajoy’s crackdown – as well as Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, viewed as a non-aligned moderate, will attend the rally.

Controversial Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is expected to make a formal response to the government’s measures in a speech later this evening. 

The backlash prompted a warning from Spain’s attorney general that any attempt by the regional premier to declare Catalan independence would be treated as “rebellion” which carries a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

But Marti Estruch of Catalonia’s public diplomacy council said the threats would be ignored.

He said: “There are thousands of us ready to resist. They cannot put us all in prison.”

Fellow activists vowed that “walls of people” would prevent Spain from occupying Catalan institutions.

Pepe Beunza, who was jailed under Franco’s dictatorship, said he has been conducting “passive resistance training” in preparation for the takeover but he fears the conflict could turn violent.

He warned: “Violence is a trap into which we cannot afford to fall.”

Mr Rajoy said the Catalan parliament will not be dissolved immediately but declared its functions will be limited to “avoid measures contrary to the Constitution”.

The crackdown includes the dismissal of Catalan leaders including premier Carles Puigdemont and the local parliament stripped of much of its power. 

Madrid can also deploy officers from the Guardia Civil or National Police the replace the local Mossos d’Esquadra police force which was strongly criticised for failing to stop the banned October 1st referendum.

Regional state media, much criticised outside Catalonia for its pro-separatist stance, will also be overseen by Madrid.

Mr Rajoy also confirmed that regional elections would be called, within a period of six months, or “as soon as institutional normality is restored”.

He accused the separatists of “liquidating the Spanish Constitution” and failing to respect local  laws when they rushed legislation permitting a referendum on independence through the Catalan parliament in early September.

He said: “We are not ending Catalan autonomy, but we are relieving of their duties those who have acted outside the law.

“No government of any democratic country can accept the law being ignored, violated and changed.”

The measures are to be carried out under the unprecedented auspices of Article 155 of the Constitution which gives Madrid sweeping powers to take control of Catalonia’s government, police, ministries and media.

Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras said Mr Rajoy had “not just suspended autonomy. They have suspended democracy.”

Iñigo Urkullu, the leader of Spain’s Basque region — which has also fought for independence — described Madrid’s plan as “disproportionate and extreme”.