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Agence France-Presse

Spain dissolved Catalonia’s parliament on Friday and called new regional elections after separatists voted for independence in a sharp escalation of a constitutional crisis that has stoked alarm in Europe.
In a televised address after an emergency cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he had also removed secessionist Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his executive.
Rajoy moved swiftly after the Senate gave his government sweeping powers to impose direct rule on the semi-autonomous region to quash its drive to break away from Spain.
He called for regional elections on December 21 as part of efforts to “restore normality” after the vote in the Catalan parliament plunged Spain into uncharted waters.
“We Spaniards are living through a sad day in which a lack of reason prevailed upon the law and demolished democracy in Catalonia,” he said.
Spain’s public prosecutor’s office will file rebellion charges next week against Catalan secessionist leader Puigdemont, a spokesman said on Friday.
Separately, Spain’s allies in Europe and the US backed Madrid in the escalating confrontation.
A court will decide whether to accept the charges against Puigdemont. Under Spanish law, the crime of “rebellion” is punishable by up to 30 years in jail.
“Public prosectors will file a complaint for rebellion against Carles Puigdemont next week,” a spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office said, adding similar lawsuits could be filed against other members of the Catalan government and parliament.


Earlier on Friday Catalonia’s regional parliament in Barcelona passed a resolution to proclaim “a Catalan republic in the form of an independent and sovereign state.”
The motion was approved with 70 votes in favour, 10 against and two abstentions, with Catalan opposition MPs walking out of the 135-seat chamber before the vote in protest at a declaration that is not recognised by Madrid or abroad.
In response, Spain’s central government was preparing to take direct control of the semi-autonomous region.
Catalan separatist lawmakers pass motion to establish a new republic independent of Spain
Puigdemont, a 54-year-old former journalist, defended the vote by the assembly, saying it had received a “mandate at the ballot box” to declare independence.
Separatist parties won a slim majority of seats in the Catalan parliament for the first time during the last regional elections in September 2015 which were billed as a proxy vote for independence, despite getting less than half the vote – 47.6 per cent.
The Catalan government then pressed ahead with a referendum on independence on October 1 despite it having been deemed unconstitutional by the courts and Spain’s central government.
The separatist leadership said voters who took part in the referendum overwhelmingly backed breaking away from Spain but turnout was just 43 per cent as Catalans in favour of remaining in Spain mostly boycotted the ballot.

Spain’s allies in Europe and the United States rallied behind Madrid on Friday after Catalonia’s regional parliament declared independence in an escalating stand-off.
European Council President Donald Tusk said Madrid “remains our only interlocutor” following the independence vote.
“I hope the Spanish government favours force of argument, not argument of force,” he tweeted.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker also warned of the danger of “more cracks” opening up in the 28-member bloc.
“We shouldn’t insert ourselves into what is an internal debate for Spain, but I wouldn’t want the European Union to consist of 95 member states in the future,” he told journalists during a trip to French Guiana.
Article 155: How Spain is taking control of Catalan powers
The United States considers Catalonia an “integral part of Spain” and supports Madrid’s measures to keep Spain “strong and united,” the State Department said.
“The United States enjoys a great friendship and an enduring partnership with our Nato ally Spain,” spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.
Germany “does not recognise” Catalonia’s unilateral declaration of independence, a government spokesman said, calling for dialogue between the two sides.
“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Spain are and always will be inviolable,” spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Twitter.
“We hope that those involved will use all available opportunities for dialogue and de-escalation.”


French President Emmanuel Macron said Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had his full support.
“I have one partner in Spain, that’s Prime Minister Rajoy … the rule of law prevails in Spain, with constitutional rules. He wants to ensure they are respected and he has my full support,” Macron told reporters in French Guiana.


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Spain

Spain dissolves Catalan parliament and will file rebellion charges against region’s leader

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (L) acknowledges applause during a session of the Upper House of Parliament in Madrid on October 27, 2017. Madrid will be filing rebellion charges against Catalan leaders responsible for the declaration of independence. Photo: Agence France-Presse

People gather to celebrate the proclamation of a Catalan republic at the Sant Jaume square in Barcelona on October 27, 2017. Catalonia's parliament voted to declare independence from Spain and proclaim a republic, just as Madrid is poised to impose direct rule on the region to stop it in its tracks. A motion declaring independence was approved with 70 votes in favour, 10 against and two abstentions, with Catalan opposition MPs walking out of the 135-seat chamber before the vote in protest at a declaration unlikely to be given official recognition. / AFP PHOTO / PAU BARRENA

Catalan separatist lawmakers pass motion to establish a new republic independent of Spain

People celebrate after the Catalan regional parliament passes the vote of the independence from Spain in Barcelona. Photo: Reuters

Catalan president Carles Puigdemont (3R) and his wife Marcela Topor leave after a session of the Catalan parliament in Barcelona on October 27, 2017. Catalonia's parliament voted to declare independence from Spain and proclaim a republic, just as Madrid is poised to impose direct rule on the region to stop it in its tracks. A motion declaring independence was approved with 70 votes in favour, 10 against and two abstentions, with Catalan opposition MPs walking out of the 135-seat chamber before the vote in protest at a declaration unlikely to be given official recognition. / AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE

Catalan President Puigdemont and deputies applaud after the Catalan regional Parliament declared indpendence from Spain in Barcelona, Spain, October 27, 2017. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy leaves his seat during a debate at the upper house Senate in Madrid, Spain, October 27, 2017. REUTERS/Susana Vera

Catalan president Carles Puigdemont casts his vote for a motion on declaring independence from Spain, during a session of the Catalan parliament in Barcelona on October 27, 2017. Catalonia's parliament voted to declare independence from Spain and proclaim a republic, just as Madrid is poised to impose direct rule on the region to stop it in its tracks. A motion declaring independence was approved with 70 votes in favour, 10 against and two abstentions, with Catalan opposition MPs walking out of the 135-seat chamber before the vote in protest at a declaration unlikely to be given official recognition. / AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE

TOPSHOT - People celebrate after Catalonia's parliament voted to declare independence from Spain in Barcelona on October 27, 2017. Catalonia's parliament voted to declare independence from Spain and proclaim a republic, just as Madrid is poised to impose direct rule on the region to stop it in its tracks. A motion declaring independence was approved with 70 votes in favour, 10 against and two abstentions, with Catalan opposition MPs walking out of the 135-seat chamber before the vote in protest at a declaration unlikely to be given official recognition. / AFP PHOTO / PAU BARRENA

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Spain’s allies in the EU and US rally to its support
