Next steps critical inspanishcrisis

Barely a month after the people of Catalonia voted for independence in a disputed referendum, Spain’s fate is balanced on a knife edge. The Spanish government was last night preparing to seize control of the region and considering rebellion charges against Catalan MPS who yesterday approved the establishment of an independent republic.

The rapid response in Madrid to this move in Barcelona saw Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy firing the Catalan government as part of emergency measures and calling for a new regional election on December 21.

No one who witnessed the chilling scenes of armed and masked officers violently assaulting voters during the October 1 referendum will have the stomach for a repeat. Yet, it is difficult to imagine how the next steps might play out peacefully – and how the effects will impact on Europe and the wider world.

Mr Rajoy made an impassioned plea on Twitter yesterday, urging all Spaniards to “remain calm”, while Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont called for Catalans to keep to their values of “pacifism and dignity”.

Statesmanlike words but it will be through their actions that their followers’ futures will be decided. The world is watching how those in power respond to this latest crisis and the ripples from whatever unfolds in Catalonia in the days ahead will be felt far beyond its disputed territory.