Spain takes charge of Catalonia- Deputy PM handed CONTROL of region amid fears of violence

Control of Catalonia was handed to Spain’s deputy prime minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria in an official state bulletin.

Catalonia’s parliament declared independence last night sending shockwaves across Europe as Spain sought to regain control. 

The regional parliament in Barcelona backed the motion by 70 to 10, with the opposition boycotting the vote, plunging the country into a full-blown constitutional crisis.

The Senate in Madrid responded by approving measures allowing the Spanish government to impose direct rule over Catalonia.

Following scenes of violence during the October 1 referendum against independence supporters, it is feared Catalonia could be gripped by more chaos. 

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked the Catalan government as part of the emergency measures following the region’s declaration of independence.

He said he is dissolving the Catalan parliament and calling for a new regional election on December 21.

Mr Rajoy said: “Spain is a serious country, it is a great nation and we are not prepared in any way to allow some people to liquidate our constitution.”

It will be the first time in four decades of democratic rule in Spain that the national government will directly run the affairs of one of the country’s 17 semi-autonomous regions, a move that could fan the flames of the Catalan revolt.

Earlier Catalan president Carles Puigdemont hailed the independence vote, saying the parliament had fulfilled “the long-desired and fought-for step”.

He said: ”In the days ahead we must keep to our values of pacifism and dignity. It’s in our, in your hands, to build the republic.”

A new regional election will be held in Catalonia on December 21, Mr Rajoy said in a televised address on a day of high drama.

As well as removing Carles Puigdemont as head of the autonomous region, he also fired its police chief and said central government ministries would take over the Catalan administration.

Mr Rajoy said: “Spain is living through a sad day. We believe it is urgent to listen to Catalan citizens, to all of them, so that they can decide their future and nobody can act outside the law on their behalf.”

As he spoke, thousands of independence supporters packed the Sant Jaume Square in front of the Catalan regional headquarters in Barcelona, their earlier joyful mood somewhat dampened by Mr Rajoy’s actions.

The crisis has now reached a new and possibly dangerous level as independence supporters have called for a campaign of disobedience. Immediately after news of the vote, Spanish shares and bonds were sold off, reflecting business concern over the turmoil.

A big crowd of independence supporters gathered outside the regional parliament in Barcelona, shouting “Liberty” in Catalan and singing traditional songs as the independence vote went through.

Among them was Monica Sanz, 44, a university lecturer who wore a Catalan flag around her neck.

She said: “We tried all peaceful means. Moderate people have reached this point because it was impossible to make an agreement with Spain.”

The motion, passed after a passionate debate from advocates and opponents of independence, said Catalonia constituted an independent, sovereign and social democratic state.

Lawmakers from members of three national parties – the People’s Party, the Socialists and Ciudadanos – walked out before the vote. Members of the pro-independence parties and the far-left Podemos then voted 70-10 in favour, in a secret ballot aimed at hindering any attempt by Madrid to lay criminal charges on them.

The soon-to-be-sacked Mr Puigdemont left the chamber to shouts of “President!” and mayors who had come from outlying areas brandished their ceremonial batons and sang the Catalan anthem “Els Segadors” (The Reapers).

He said on Twitter: “Catalonia is and will be a land of freedom. In times of difficulty and in times of celebration. Now more than ever.”

But within an hour, the upper house of Spain’s parliament in Madrid authorised Rajoy’s government to rule Catalonia directly. Spain’s constitutional court started a review of the vote for prosecutors to decide if its constituted rebellion.

In Brussels, the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said the independence vote changed nothing and the EU would only deal with the central government.

Spain’s IBEX fell as much 2.1 percent to a four-day low during the day, 10-year government bond yields hit a day high, and the euro dipped against the dollar on Friday after the Catalan independence declaration. The region contributes about a fifth of Spain’s economy, the fourth-largest in the eurozone.

JP Morgan said that due to the unceratinty, it was lowering its forecast for Spain’s GDP for the last quarter of 2017 and first of 2018 to below the 3.5 per cent seen so far this year.