Catalans could decide their fate this week

The ruling Catalan separatist coalition has said the regional parliament will hold a meeting on Thursday which many believe will become a cover for a vote on declaring independence from Spain.

Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has asked the parliament to convene a debate and vote on how to respond to the central Spanish government’s plan to take direct control of the north-eastern region.

Mr Puigdemont’s speech on Saturday was seen as a veiled threat of formalising an ambiguous declaration of independence earlier this month that he declared suspended in order to earn time for negotiations.

The Spanish government said that no dialogue is possible with independence on the table and is manoeuvring to sack all the Catalan top officials and call a snap regional election in the next six months.

Spain’s political parties have designated 27 senators to study how the government might intervene in the running of Catalonia and halt the region’s bid to declare independence.

The commission formed yesterday comprises 15 membersofspanishprime minister Mariano Rajoy’s ruling Popular Party.

Pro-independence students are calling for a strike in Catalan universities on Thursday to urge authorities to push ahead with an independence declaration.