8-day ultimatum to Catalonia gov’t

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday gave the Catalan government eight days to drop an independence bid, failing which he would suspend the region’s political autonomy and rule the region directly.

His move could deepen the confrontation between Madrid and the northeastern region, but also signals a way out of Spain’s biggest political crisis since a failed military coup in 1981.

Rajoy would probably call a snap regional election after activating Article 155 of the constitution, which would allow him to dismiss the Cata- lan government.

Catalonia’s president, Carles Puigdemont, issued a symbolic declaration of independence from Spain on Tuesday night but then immediately suspended it and called for negotiations with Madrid.

Rajoy responded after a Cabinet meeting called to consider Puigdemont’s offer, saying, “The Cabinet has agreed this morning to formally request the Catalan government to confirm whether it has declared the independence of Catalonia, regardless of the deliberate confusion created over its implementation.”