Catalonia risks Madrid taking control of the region “by force,” according to the UK spokesman for the ruling People’s Party in Spain.
Toni Timoner warned Catalan’s that the Government have been clear with their threats of what they would do if the region declared independence.
When the spokesman of the People’s Party was asked what the next move from Madrid would be if Catalonia declared independence, Mr Timoner said they would “take control”.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “The next move has been established by the request of the Senate. The activation of the [Article] 155 will be followed by a number of actions.
“Certain interventions to take control of precise parts of the administration in Catalonia, the local police, the communications, the finances.”
The host, Dermot Murnaghan, stepped in asking whether there was a provision for Madrid to take control “by force” if it was “necessary”.
Mr Timoner replied: “Well it has to be done by force because it is an obligation of the Government. There is no other way to do it.
“The thing is we hope it will be in a peaceful way with a happy outcome, but this is the goals, this is precisely the procedure.
“We have to follow something which is certain, it’s respected and it has been written down in a piece of legislation and put forward in the Senate.
“So we are very predictable, we are simply fulfilling our obligations.”
Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont today ruled out a snap general election in the region in the wake of the crisis sparked by the independence referendum at the beginning of October.
Mr Puigdemont also failed to declare independence from the rest of Spain and create a new republic.
He said: “We don’t have a guarantee that justifies the elections. Article 155 as it is will very likely be triggered. This is totally abusive.”
“I do not accept these measures, because they are unjust and because they hide the vengeful action of the state.”
It had been widely expected that Mr Puigdemont would call snap regional elections as a way of preventing Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy from implementing Article 155 and seizing control of the region.
Mr Rajoy’s administration had suggested that it would consider stopping the triggering of Article 155 if Catalonia called the elections.
Mr Puigdemont still let the door open for the Catalan Parliament to declare independence.
He said: “I have tried to obtain the guarantees. I think I have acted responsibly, but I have not obtained a responsible action on the part of the Popular Party (PP), who has tried to take advantage of the option to create more tension. It is up to the parliament to proceed to what the majority considers regarding the response to the measures of 155.”