TIMELINE: how the crisis in Spain has unfolded over the last three years
January 2015 After a non-binding referendum-style opinion poll the previous year showed high support for independence, Catalan president Artur Mas calls new regional elections as a further test of support.
September 2015 Separatist parties win a majority in regional elections in Catalonia on a platform of pushing for independence.
November 2015 Catalonia’s regional parliament votes for a resolution in support of independence, pledging a “disconnection from the Spanish state” in legislation.
December 2015
Spain’s constitutional court in Madrid strikes down the Catalan parliament’s vote for independence, ruling that the new legislation infringes the national constitution.
January 2016
Carles Puigdemont takes over as president of the Catalan regional government after an agreement between separatist parties in the regional parliament.
June 2017
The Catalan government calls an independence referendum for October 2017.
September 7, 2017
The Spanish constitutional court suspends a referendum law introduced by the Catalan regional government, declaring the upcoming referendum illegal.
September 15, 2017 Spanish police seize ballot boxes hidden by the regional government.
September 20, 2017 Spanish police storm and occupy Catalan government ministries to search for evidence that the Catalan government is breaking the law by trying to hold a referendum. Protesters take to the streets in response.
October 1, 2017 Thousands of Catalans take to the street to occupy polling stations and keep them open amid a police crackdown to supress referendum. 92% of people who vote in the referendum back independence on a 43% turnout.
October 3, 2017
Huge protests and a general strike shake Catalonia as King Felipe VI condemns the Catalan government in a strongly-worded television address.
October 11, 2017
Spanish prime minister Mario Rajoy sets the Catalan government a deadline of October 16 to clarify whether they have declared independence or not, with a further three-day extension to October 19.
October 17, 2017
Spain’s national court orders the imprisonment of Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, two leading Catalan separatist politicians.
October 21, 2017
Spanish government suspends Catalonia’s autonomy and says it will impose direct rule from Saturday, October 28.
October 26, 2017
Catalan president of government Carles Puigdemont opts against declaring independence himself and says he will leave the decision to MPs.
October 27, 2017
Catalan parliament meets and unilaterally declares independence by 70 votes to 10, in a vote boycotted by the opposition. Later that day, Spain’s senate approves new powers for the Madrid government to impose direct rule on Catalonia by 214 votes to 47.