Spain in crisis as Madrid

- rupted, violently in some cases, police and Guardia Civil paramilitary forces.

executive, led by Carles Puigde caretaker envoys from Madrid.

Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria is of Catalonia’s regional ministries.

Competing rallies

Tens of thousands celebrated in Barcelona and other Catalan cities after Friday’s independence to execute.

But anti-secession rallies have been called for the capital, Madrid, on Saturday, and for Barcelona on Sunday.

The move to quash Catalan Spanish constitution is likely to anger many in a region of some 7.5 million people that enjoyed control over education, healthcare and police.

government has curtailed autonomy in the region since dictator Francisco Franco’s repressive 1939-75 rule.

Independence supporters have - rary measure, implemented under a constitutional article devised to rein in rebel regions.

authoritarianism nor to 155,” the far-left CUP party, an ally of Puig

A motion to declare Catalonia

Catalan leaders point to the “Yes” vote in the deeply- divisive October 1 referendum as a mandate for independence, even though less than half of voters took part.

- erico Santi, Europe analyst at political risk consultancy Eurasia - and pro-independence activists.”

Speaking after the parliament’s proclamation, Puigdemont urged activists to “maintain the momentum” in a peaceful manner.

Unwavering support for Spain

The Spanish government has re the United States and its allies in the European Union.

of nationalistic and secessionist sentiment, particularly after Britain’s dramatic decision last year to leave the bloc.

EU President Donald Tusk insisted Madrid “remains our only interlocutor” in Spain, but urged it to exercise restraint.

“I hope the Spanish government favors force of argument, not argu