Spain dissolves Catalonia’s regional government
Move follows independence vote
BARCELONA, Spain — Spain’s central government Friday fired Catalonia’s separatist leaders, dissolved its parliament and called new elections for December, hours after regional lawmakers voted in favor of a historic declaration of independence.
Seeking to quell Spain’s gravest constitutional crisis in its nearly four decades of democracy, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy ousted the man who has become a personal nemesis after weeks of confrontation, the region’s outspoken president, Carles Puigdemont.
The prime minister’s remarks, which followed a special Cabinet session, stood in stark contrast to the celebrations that broke out in Barcelona after the Catalan parliament’s vote. Cheers erupted in the ornate chamber after the result was read — a nearly unbroken series of “Si, si, si.”
The final tally was 70 yes, 10 opposed and two blank ballots. The opposition had walked out in protest moments earlier.
“Long live Catalonia!” Puigdemont told the packed chamber, where some lawmakers brushed away tears.
In brief remarks, the Catalan leader called on supporters to hew to “peaceful, dignified” behavior.
But the dramatic vote also laid bare deep divisions over independence. During parliamentary debate, an anti-secessionist lawmaker, Carlos Carrizosa, tore up a copy of the proposed declaration and castigated the other parliamentarians.
“You leave those Catalans who don’t follow you orphaned, without a government,” he told them.
For both sides, independence for Catalonia, which has about 7.5 million residents, is a question bound up with history and culture, pride and passion.
Spain considers the secession drive not only aninsurrection, but a scalding affront to the country’s still-young democracy and its system of limited self-rule for its 17 regions, including Catalonia.
Catalan nationalists, meanwhile, embrace a past steeped in their own language and traditions, but also shudder at the memory of Gen. Francisco Franco’s dictatorship, under which the region’s suffering was particularly pronounced.
The region has grown into Spain’s economic powerhouse, with the tourist hub of Barcelona as its capital. Some Catalans resent having their taxes subsidize poorer parts of Spain and have long lobbied for more fiscal autonomy from Madrid.
The Catalan parliament’s motion called for the start of an independence process that would include the drafting of new regional laws and envisioned the start of negotiations “on equal footing” with Spanish authorities.
In Madrid, a dramatically opposing scenario played out only moments after the Catalan vote. Spain’s Senate voted to trigger Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, effectively authorizing a central government takeover of the region.