Catalonia’s parliament dissolved after 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 grimly delivered 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.

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 a blatant insurrection 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.

Moments after the Catalan vote, Spain’s Senate, meeting in Madrid, voted to trigger Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, effectively giving the central government broad powers to take over any region that is in grave breach of the law.

Rajoy said in his evening address that Catalan leaders had perpetrated a “fraud” that new regional elections, to be held Dec. 21, would redress.

“We believe it is urgent to listen to Catalan citizens,” the Spanish leader said. “Nobody can act outside the law on their behalf.”

In a further portent of confrontation, the Spanish prosecutor’s office said it could seek charges of rebellion against those behind the vote, including Puigdemont, his top deputies and perhaps lawmakers as well.

In Barcelona, the scene outside the parliament building was one of jubilation after the parliamentary vote, with an enormous crowd cheering wildly and shouting: “We’re a republic!” Huge street celebrations erupted, with people toasting each other with bubbly wine poured into plastic cups.