Taking over Catalonia means big power transfer
A look at what it means to trigger Spanish constitution’s Article 155
BARCELONA, SPAIN — Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy left the nation breathless when he announced the steps he wants to take to crush the separatist movement in the prosperous Catalonia region.
Rajoy called on Spain’s Senate on Saturday to trigger a previously untapped section of the Spain constitution that allows the central government to temporarily intervene in the running of a region if its leaders have broken the law.
Activating the constitutional authority granted by Article 155 is Madrid’s boldest response so far to avowals from Catalonia’s leaders to declare independence based on an Oct. 1 referendum that a court has judged as illegal.
Here are some of the regional powers Rajoy is seeking by triggering Article 155: DEPOSE LEADERS First and foremost, Rajoy wants to remove the members of Catalonia’s pro-independence regional government. Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, vice-president Oriol Junqueras, and the 12 regional ministers claim Catalonia is sovereign and not subject to Spanish law. IMPOSE CONTROL Rajoy proposes taking over the vast regional administration and its roughly 200,000 civil servants after the top officials are removed. How Madrid’s management would work is unclear. One option would be for Spanish ministries to assume direct control of their regional counterparts. TIMETABLE A special commission of 27 senators will assess Rajoy’s request on Tuesday. Regional president Puigdemont will have the chance to argue his case before the Senate on Thursday before it holds a vote expected Friday. DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE Political observers across the ideological spectrum agree Rajoy and his government may have to resort to using force if Catalonia’s leaders disobey orders to step down. Calls for resistance and disobedience have become standard in the secessionist camp.
Hardcore separatists will put intense pressure on Puigdemont and his government to stay in office. There are fears such a standoff could lead to violent police raids like those that marred the referendum. ELECTIONS In all 17 of Spain’s regions, the right to call early regional elections belongs exclusively to regional leaders. Rajoy wants that right passed to him temporarily in Catalonia. His request includes a commitment to call for regional elections within six months.
Rajoy will be hoping a new election would tip the balance in favour of lawmakers opposed to secession. POLICE Catalonia and the Basque Country are Spain’s only regions with their own fully deployed police forces. Spain wants to take direct control of Catalonia’s police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, and warns it will consider increasing the presence of the National Police and Civil Guard. Mossos chief Josep Trapero is already under investigation for sedition. FINANCES Spain will increase its supervision of the region’s finances, specifically to ensure that no public funds or revenues are used to promote a campaign for secession. Madrid put a large portion of Catalonia’s budget under its direct supervision in the run-up to the Oct. 1 referendum in an attempt to stop the vote from occurring. PUBLIC MEDIA Under Rajoy’s plan, Spanish authorities will also oversee the running of Catalonia’s public television and radio stations, which have been major proponents of secession. His government will “guarantee the transmission of information that is true, objective and balanced” and that is “respectful of the values and principles of the Spanish Constitution and charter law for Catalonia,” Rajoy said.