The Catalan parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, just as the Spanish government appears set to impose direct rule.
Deputies in the regional assembly backed the motion for secession by 70 to 10 in a historic decision that escalates the biggest political crisis since Spain’s return to democracy in the 1970s.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy earlier told senators direct rule was needed to return “law, democracy and stability” to Catalonia.
The crisis began when Catalans backed independence in a disputed vote earlier this month.
⚠ 🔴🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 #BREAKING
It’s official: #Catalonia‘s @parlament_cat declares INDEPENDENCE
Welcome to the Catalan Republic! pic.twitter.com/uOLzqN60NL
— 🌐🦉 Hʏᴘᴇʀʙᴏʟᴏɪᴅ (@Hyperboloid_INT) October 27, 2017
The Catalan government said that of the 43 percent of potential voters who took part in the referendum, 90 percent were in favour of independence. However, The Spain’s Constitutional Court had ruled the vote illegal.
In all, the motion declaring independence was approved with 70 in favour, 10 against and two abstentions in the 135-seat chamber.
Thousands gathered outside Parlament after parliament votes for the independence of Catalan from Spain pic.twitter.com/3yr4cBSLM2
— Jane Samuels (@Jane_Samuels) October 27, 2017
Spain’s Senate is still to vote on whether for the first time to enact Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which empowers the government to take “all measures necessary to compel” a region in case of a crisis.
It would enable Madrid to fire Catalan leaders, and take control of the region’s finances, police and public media.
#Breaking – #Catalonia #Parlament has voted to declare unilateral independence.
70 yes
10 no
2 blank#ARCat27Oct pic.twitter.com/QWma9jk22f— Jamie Johnson (@JamieoJohnson) October 27, 2017
