Protesters take to the streets of Barcelona as Spain's PM moves to impose direct rule over Catalonia

[Crusader]

Protesters take to the streets of Barcelona as Spain's PM moves to impose direct rule over Catalonia and police prepare to arrest region's president if he declares independence


Protesters take to the streets of Barcelona as Spain's PM moves to impose direct rule over Catalonia and police prepare to arrest region's president if he declares independence

Thousands of pro-independence Catalans took to the streets of Barcelona today

Spain's PM Mariano Rajoy said he would curb powers of the Catalan parliament

Rajoy said government had taken this unprecedented decision to restore the law

Also proposed central government ministers assume powers of Catalan officials

Catalan president faces rebellion charge which could see him jailed for 30 years

Protesters have poured onto the streets of Barcelona today as Spain's Prime Minister moved to impose direct rule over Catalonia and threatened to arrest the region's president if he declares independence.

Mariano Rajoy wants to sack the Catalan government and call an election within six months in a bid to thwart a drive by the autonomous region to break away.

Rajoy said his government had taken the unprecedented decision to restore the law, ensure regional institutions were neutral and guarantee public services.


Thousands of protesters wave Catalan separatist flags during a demonstration today


The measures must now be approved by Spain's upper house, the Senate, where a vote is scheduled for October 27.

Rajoy's conservative Popular Party holds a majority in the Senate, and the measures also enjoy the support of the main opposition Socialists and centrist Ciudadanos party.

If the Senate greenlights the proposals, the Catalan parliament will continue to operate as normal until it is dissolved, but it will be unable to elect a new government chief to replace Puigdemont or vote on any laws that go against Spain's constitution and its statute as a semi-autonomous region.

Thousands of pro-independence Catalans took to the streets of Barcelona this afternoon to demonstrate against Rajoy's decision and the imprisonment of civil society leaders Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart, both leading figures in the October 1 referendum.

Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont joined the afternoon protest before delivering a speech in response to the decision to take over the regional cabinet's functions at 9pm tonight.

Catalonia's vice president Oriol Junqueras promised to meet supporters at the protest to take a stand 'against totalitarianism.'

He tweeted: 'Today more than ever, let's defend democracy and civil and political rights.'


Rajoy is also requesting that all of Puigdemont's government be stripped of their functions, which 'in principle will be carried out by (national) ministers for the duration of this exceptional situation.'

The PM confirmed Spain was initiating Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution in order to take control of Catalonia, illustrating its determination to derail the independence movement led by separatist politicians in the prosperous industrial region.

Mariano Rajoy also blamed separatists for pushing the government to take the unprecedented measures in Catalonia.

Meanwhile, Spanish authorities are preparing to arrest Catalonia's president and charge him with rebellion if he declares independence.

The State Attorney General José Manuel Maza confirmed on Saturday that 'a complaint is being prepared for rebellion' against the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, and other independence leaders.

The charge of rebellion could see Puigdemont face up to 30 years in prison if found guilty, according to El Pais.

During the earlier press conference, Rajoy said: 'It wasn't our wish, nor our intention. It never was and I think the Spanish public opinion as a whole knows this.

'Article 155 is a constitutional article, but it's only invoked in exceptional circumstances.


'We are triggering Article 155 because no government of any democratic country, I insist none, can accept that the law is ignored, that the law is violated, that the law is changed and all of this trying to impose their criteria on the rest.'

He added: 'This is the reason why we have invoked a constitutional article, similar to others in many European Constitutions, that was voted for by all the Spanish people.'

In the streets of Barcelona, banging pots and pans and honking cars greeted Mr Rajoy's announcement.

At the national level, Pablo Echenique, a secretary in the far-left Podemos party, vowed to work to oust Mr Rajoy and his conservative Popular Party.

Pro-business Ciudadanos (Citizens) party president Albert Rivera says he supports the announced measures to heal divisions created by the Catalan independence movement and to provide the security companies need to remain in Catalonia.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...president.html

[DarkSecret]

OMG! What a democratic move!

[DarkSecret]

We need a Catalonia subforum!

[alnortedelsur]

OMG! What a democratic move!

Did you read the article?

The move made by Madrid is totally legal, using a constitutional figure (the article 155) that is present in a constitution that was democratically voted by all Spanish people.

The Catalan politicians are the ones who acted against the law, wanting to impose their criteria to the rest.

[Grace O'Malley]

Did you read the article?

The move made by Madrid is totally legal, using a constitutional figure (the article 155) that is present in a constitution that was democratically voted by all Spanish people.

The Catalan politicians are the ones who acted against the law, wanting to impose their criteria to the rest.

Not a wise move though. Too heavy handed.

[Cristiano viejo]

Not a wise move though. Too heavy handed.

Perhaps for you, a supossed Irish living to 15.752 kms of Spain

[alnortedelsur]

Not a wise move though. Too heavy handed.

And what do you suggest that the Madrid government should do? To cross their arms and do nothing? And let those corrupt Catalan politicians to get their way splitting Catalonia from Spain?

[Grace O'Malley]

Perhaps for you, a supossed Irish living to 15.752 kms of Spain

What do you mean "supposed Irish"? I'm fully Irish being born there and all my ancestry is from there. If anyone is familiar with Irish history if you get too heavy handed with people they will push back. It turns neutral people against you.

If Spain handles this wrong they could create a much stronger independence movement. Most people in Catalonia would have no reason to leave Spain. They are not exactly oppressed but if people start thinking their democratic voice is being curtailed they will start feeling resentful. It's not rocket science.

[Cristiano viejo]

What do you mean "supposed Irish"? I'm fully Irish being born there and all my ancestry is from there. If anyone is familiar with Irish history if you get too heavy handed with people they will push back. It turns neutral people against you.

If Spain handles this wrong they could create a much stronger independence movement. Most people in Catalonia would have no reason to leave Spain. They are not exactly oppressed but if people start thinking their democratic voice is being curtailed they will start feeling resentful. It's not rocket science.

We dont care about what foreigners think or say. Your stupid idea of inaction is something that is happening since that Franco died in 1975 and of course inaction is the guilty of the current situation.

You should worry idk, about the Australian aborigines, about how Irish dont look like Spaniards nor phenotypically nor genotypically, or about the rabbit plague of your country.

[Dandelion]

Cristiano will soon be drafted in the Spanish military to violently suppress those masses.