The Castilian regime moved to impose direct dominion over Catalonia on Friday, stripping the part of its autonomy less than an threescore minutes afterward its parliament declared independence inward a stunning present of defiance to Madrid.
Although the Catalan annunciation appears to live on a doomed gesture, both sides' moves convey Spain's worst political crisis inward 4 decades to a novel in addition to mayhap unsafe level.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for calm in addition to said the dominion of law would live on restored inward Catalonia, where secessionists own got long cherished the dream of a separate nation.
A crowd of to a greater extent than than 2,000 independence supporters gathered inward the Ciutadella Park exterior the regional parliament inward Barcelona, shouting "Liberty" inward Catalan in addition to singing traditional songs equally the independence vote went through.
The motion passed inward the parliament afterward a passionate ground from advocates in addition to opponents of independence said Catalonia constituted an independent, sovereign in addition to social democratic state.
Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont left the bedchamber to shouts of "President!" in addition to mayors who had come upwardly from outlying areas brandished their ceremonial batons in addition to sang the Catalan anthem "Els Segadors" (The Reapers).
"Catalonia is in addition to volition live on a Blue Planet of freedom. In times of difficulty in addition to inward times of celebration. Now to a greater extent than than ever", Puigdemont said on Twitter.
But right away afterward tidings of the vote, which 3 opposition parties boycotted, Castilian shares in addition to bonds were sold off, reflecting trouble organisation concern over the turmoil inward the wealthy region.
Within an hour, the upper trouble solid of Spain's parliament inward Madrid authorised Rajoy's regime to dominion Catalonia straight -- an unprecedented displace inward Kingdom of Spain since the furnish of republic inward the belatedly 1970s.
In Brussels, the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said the independence vote changed null in addition to the European Union would solely bargain alongside the fundamental government.
The United States, Britain, French Republic in addition to FRG likewise swiftly dismissed the annunciation in addition to expressed back upwardly for Rajoy's efforts to proceed Kingdom of Spain united.
FIRING THE GOVERNMENT?
Rajoy's cabinet was coming together on Fri even to adopt the origin measures to principle Catalonia. This could include firing the Barcelona regime in addition to assuming direct supervision of Catalan police trace forces.
"Exceptional measures should solely live on adopted when no other remedy is possible," Castilian Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said inward an address to the Senate on Fri morning.
"In my persuasion at that topographic point is no alternative. The solely affair that tin give the axe live on done in addition to should live on done is to convey in addition to comply alongside the law," said Rajoy, who has staked out an uncompromising position.
How direct dominion would occur the Blue Planet - including the reaction of civil servants in addition to the police trace - is uncertain. Some independence supporters own got promised to mountain a drive of civil disobedience.
The top dog secessionist group, the Catalan National Assembly, called on civil servants non to follow orders from the Castilian regime in addition to urged them to follow "peaceful resistance".
"Tensions are probable to rising significantly over the coming days," Antonio Barroso of Teneo Intelligence said inward a note.
"Demonstrators mightiness bear witness to preclude the police trace from removing Catalan ministers from their offices if the fundamental regime decides to practice so. This increases the opportunity of vehement clashes alongside the police.”
The crisis unfolded afterward Catalonia held an independence plebiscite on Oct. 1 which was declared illegal past times Madrid. Although it endorsed independence, it drew solely a 43 pct turnout equally Catalans who oppose independence largely boycotted it.
The crisis has divide Catalonia in addition to caused deep resentment some Spain. National flags at nowadays hang from many balconies inward the upper-case missive of the alphabet inward an facial expression of unity.
Catalonia is 1 of Spain's near prosperous regions in addition to already has a high marker of autonomy. But it has a litany of historic grievances, exacerbated during the 1939-1975 Franco dictatorship, when its civilization in addition to politics were suppressed.
The chaos has likewise prompted a flying of trouble organisation from part in addition to alarmed European leaders who fright the crisis could fan separatist sentiment some the continent.
NOT EASY
"It is non going to live on easy, it is non going to live on free, it is non going to alter inward a day. But at that topographic point is no option to a procedure towards the Catalan Republic," lawmaker Marta Rovira of the Junts pel Si pro-independence alliance said inward a ground leading to the vote.
After the debate, lawmakers from members of 3 top dog national parties -- the People's Party, the Socialists in addition to Ciudadanos -- walked out. Members of the pro-independence parties in addition to the far-left Podemos in addition to then voted 70-10 inward favour inward a metro ballot aimed at hindering whatever endeavor past times Madrid to lay criminal charges on them.
Spain's constitutional courtroom said it was reviewing the vote. The Blue Planet prosecutor in addition to other parties own got 3 days to opened upwardly a case.
Montserrat Rectoret, a 61-year-old historian, was amid the crowds inward Barcelona.
"I am emotional because Catalonia has struggled for twoscore years to live on independent in addition to in conclusion I tin give the axe reckon it," she said.
Reuters