Catalan leaders defy king over split

Political crisis deepens as region set to declare independence within days despite warning

TENSION mounted in Spain yesterday after Catalonia’s leader vowed that the region would declare independence within days, defying a stern warning from the country’s king that national stability was in peril.

The courts, meanwhile, placed Catalan police officials and pro-independence civil leaders under investigation for alleged sedition as Spain sank deeper into its worst political crisis in decades. King Felipe VI branded the independence drive illegal and undemocratic, throwing his weight behind the national government.

But Catalan leaders dug in, buoyed by anger at a violent police crackdown against voters during Sunday’s referendum on independence which had been banned by Madrid and the courts.

The Catalan government would act at the end of this week or the beginning of next to declare independence, its leader Carles Puigdemont told the BBC in an interview.

The Catalan government’s spokesman, Jordi Turull, said that regional authorities had nearly finished counting the votes.

The result would be submitted to the regional parliament which would have two days to proclaim the independence of Catalonia, he said.

The move would intensify the standoff with the central government, which along with the national courts has branded the referendum illegal.

Madrid has the power to suspend the semi-autonomous status that Catalonia enjoys under Spain’s system of regional governments.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has yet to respond publicly to Sunday’s vote, but the king’s intervention could clear the way for him to act.

“It is the responsibility of the legitimate state powers to ensure constitutional order,” Felipe said.

Hundreds of thousands of Catalans rallied in fury on Tuesday during a general strike over violence by Spanish riot police against voters taking part in the referendum on Sunday.

Felipe’s dramatic intervention late on Tuesday was a gauge of tension in Spain.

Catalan leaders “with their irresponsible conduct” could put at risk the economic and social stability of Catalonia and all of Spain, he said.

Felipe repeated his earlier calls for harmony between Spaniards.

But after Sunday’s violence, his address risked further fanning resentment in Catalonia.

“It was awful. It was a mistake whichever way you look at it,” Turull said of the king’s speech.

“Instead of calming things, what it did was throw fuel on the fire.”

Adding to tensions, a judge yesterday placed Catalonia’s regional police chief, Josep Luis Trapero, and three other suspects under investigation for an alleged crime of sedition.

The force has been accused of failing to rein in pro-independence protesters during disturbances in Barcelona last month.

Catalan claims for independence date back centuries but have surged during recent years.

Meanwhile, a grouping of Catalans opposed to independence called for supporters to join a counter-demonstration on Sunday in Barcelona.