Catalan government sacked after independence declaration.
The Madrid government sacked Catalonia’s president and dismissed its
parliament on Friday, hours after the region declared itself an
independent nation, in Spain’s gravest political crisis since the return
of democracy four decades ago.
“Spain is living through a sad day,” Rajoy said.
“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.”
Despite
the emotions and celebrations inside and outside the building, it was a
futile gesture as shortly afterwards the Spanish Senate approved the
imposition of direct rule on the autonomous region.
The crisis has reached a new and possibly dangerous level
as independence supporters have called for a campaign of disobedience.
Immediately after news of the Catalan vote, which three opposition
parties boycotted, Spanish shares and bonds were sold off, reflecting
business concern over the turmoil.
In
Barcelona, Jordi Cases, 52, a farmer from Lleida province who had driven
down with his family for the protest, said he was excited but worried
about what came next.
“Now the repression is going to be terrible but we have to take what we can. We must resist and ask for help where needed,” he said.
A new election will be held in Catalonia on Dec.
21, Prime Minister Mariano 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 the police
chief and said central government ministries would take over the Catalan
administration.
As
he spoke thousands of independence supporters packed the Sant Jaume
Square in front of the Catalan regional headquarters in Barcelona, their
earlier celebratory mood dampened by Rajoy’s actions.
In
a stunning show of defiance to Madrid, the Catalan parliament had voted
in the afternoon to make a unilateral declaration of independence.
Several European countries, including France and
Germany, and the United States also rejected the independence
declaration and said they supported Rajoy’s efforts to preserve Spain’s
unity.
The crisis unfolded after Catalonia held an
independence referendum on Oct. 1 which was declared illegal by Madrid.
Although it endorsed independence, it drew only a 43 percent turnout as
Catalans who oppose independence largely boycotted it.
The
independence push has caused deep resentment around Spain. The chaos
has also prompted a flight of business from Catalonia and alarmed
European leaders who fear the crisis could fan separatist sentiment
around the continent.
Catalonia is one of Spain’s most prosperous regions
and already has a high degree of autonomy. But it has a litany of
historic grievances, exacerbated during the 1939-1975 Franco
dictatorship, when its culture and politics were suppressed.
“Now the repression is going to be terrible but we have to take what we can. We must resist and ask for help where needed,” he said.