Catalan crisis:

Spain’s political crisis was heading towards a crunch point this week, as the government of Catalonia prepared to respond to the Spanish prime minister’s plan to impose direct rule from Madrid, using a never-before invoked article of the constitution to suspend the region’s autonomy. Mariano Rajoy said the regional parliament would be dissolved, and new elections held as soon as possible. The Catalan parliament was due to discuss the situation on Thursday, raising speculation that the session would end with the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont (pictured), formally declaring independence – something he had earlier stopped short of doing. Spain’s Senate was expected to confirm direct rule on Friday.

The separatists claim that the controversial referendum held in the region on 1 October gives them a mandate to declare an independent republic of Catalonia. But although the vast majority of people who voted backed independence, most Catalans boycotted the poll – which was deemed “illegal” by Madrid. Turnout was 43%. The forcefulness of Rajoy’s response last Saturday was unexpected. However, he said that he and his government had no choice but to take firm action, because “no government of any democratic country can accept that the law be violated, ignored and changed”. Early this week, Catalan leaders vowed to defy any attempt to impose direct rule, raising the prospect of large-scale civil disobedience.