Spanish Senate Meeting to Approve Direct Rule over Catalonia

Following the rejection of a proposal for new elections in the Catalonia region by its leader, the Spanish Senate will convene on Friday, November 5, to decide on revoking autonomy from the Catalans. Carles Puigdemont, the head of the local Catalan government, claims that with a '90 percent' vote in favor of independence obtained in the referendum on October 1, he is now obligated to declare independence. In contrast, the Spanish government announced on Saturday, October 21, its intention to dissolve the separatist local government in Catalonia and to hold new elections in the region. However, according to Reuters, Mr. Puigdemont officially announced on Thursday, November 3, that contrary to the central government's wishes, no new elections would be held in Catalonia. He argued that the Spanish central government had not provided him with sufficient guarantees that holding new elections would prevent direct rule over Catalonia. Reuters, citing local Spanish media, reported that if the central government were to withdraw Article 155, release two separatist leaders from prison, and remove national police forces from Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont would be ready to hold elections. Now, the decision by the head of the local government not to hold elections has put the ball in the court of the Spanish Senate to decide on Friday whether to grant the central government the power to dissolve the local government of Catalonia and take control of its institutions and police. Mariano Rajoy, the Prime Minister of Spain, has warned that if the leader of Catalonia does not retreat from the demand for independence, he will implement Article 155 of the Constitution, which allows the Spanish central government to rule directly over the Catalonia region. However, the Senate must also consider the possibility that approving direct rule may lead to confrontations between supporters and opponents of Catalonia's separation from Spain, potentially spilling the conflict into the streets. This concern arises from the fact that some supporters of Catalonia's independence have promised to launch a campaign of civil disobedience if the central government intervenes in the region. If the Spanish Senate votes in favor of direct rule on Friday, Carles Puigdemont will be stripped of power on Saturday when this law is published in the official state newspaper. The Catalonia region in northern Spain has a population of 7.5 million, and its residents speak Catalan. Separatists argue that while the economy of this region accounts for one-fifth of Spain's total economy, the region's revenues are spent across all of Spain, and if independent, the region would become wealthier. However, opponents of separation believe that independence could lead to instability and severe economic consequences for the entire country.