Catalonia Declares Independence; Spanish Senate Approves Direct Rule from Madrid

The regional parliament of Catalonia defied the central government of Spain and voted for independence from the country on Friday, November 5. Moments after this action, the Spanish Senate also approved a plan to impose direct governance from Madrid over Catalonia, escalating the political crisis in the country. According to CNN, Catalan parliament representatives announced their vote after heated discussions and speeches regarding the proposal to form a 'Catalan Republic as an independent country,' resulting in 70 votes in favor, 10 against, and 2 abstentions. The report states that the opposing representatives left the parliament before the voting took place, while independence supporters gathered outside the parliament and celebrated the announcement of the vote. This event prompted an immediate reaction from Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who tweeted a call for calm among the Spanish people. He wrote on Twitter: 'I ask Spaniards to remain calm. The rule of law will once again be established in Catalonia.' The current crisis in Spain is referred to as the deepest political crisis the country has faced since the 1970s, following the restoration of democracy in Spain, which began with the Catalonia independence referendum on October 1. Hopes for resolving this crisis diminished on Thursday after Catalonia's local government leader, Carles Puigdemont, opposed the central government's decision to hold new elections in the region. The Spanish government announced its intention to dissolve the separatist local government of Catalonia and hold new elections, but Puigdemont rejected this demand despite pressure from Madrid and some members of his party. In this context, Rajoy on Friday asked the Spanish Senate to approve his plan to dissolve the Catalan parliament and hold new elections under Article 155 of the country's constitution. Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, which grants such authority to the central government, had never been implemented before. Reports indicate that moments after the Catalan parliament voted to form an independent country, the Spanish Senate also approved Rajoy's request. Thus, the next step for the Spanish Prime Minister will be to revoke Catalonia's autonomy, which he promised to implement immediately. In this regard, the Spanish government announced its intention to directly govern Catalonia. The President of the Catalan parliament referred to the Spanish government's actions against the region as a 'coup.' Hundreds of thousands marched in Barcelona in opposition to Catalonia's separation.