Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Spain: We reign in Catalonia
Madrid threat to wantaway region
SPAIN was last night braced for further violence after Madrid declared it could impose direct rule on Catalonia.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has threatened to suspend the Barcelona-based autonomous government unless it scraps its bid to become independent.
It is likely to spark mass protests in Catalonia tomorrow that many fear will lead to even worse violent clashes than those already seen on the streets of the region. Professor Josep Alay of Barcelona University said: “It will lead to civil unrest that we have not yet seen in Barcelona and in Catalonia in general. “Most Catalan people will not accept at all the suspension of autonomy.” Catalan President Carles Puigdemont yesterday refused to ditch plans to declare independence after being given a 10am deadline. He accused Madrid of rejecting his repeated calls for negotiations and said his parliament will go ahead with a vote to declare a breakaway nation.
Mr Rajoy responded by announcing he would trigger article 155 of the constitution to take control of all Catalonia departments including the police and finances. A spokesman said: “No one doubts the Spanish government will do all it can to restore constitutional order.”
Catalonians won the independence vote by 90% but Madrid has declared the poll illegal.