This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/27/world/europe/spain-catalonia-puigdemont.html

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Spain’s Prime Minister Asks for Power to Oust Catalan Leader Catalonia’s Parliament Votes to Declare Independence From Spain
(35 minutes later)
BARCELONA, Spain — Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, urged the Senate on Friday to grant him extraordinary powers to oust the leadership of Catalonia and take control over the region in order to end a secessionist threat. BARCELONA, Spain — In a major escalation of Spain’s territorial conflict, Catalan lawmakers declared independence on Friday, setting up a showdown with the central government in coming days.
Mr. Rajoy said there was “no alternative” because the Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, and his separatist cabinet had pursued an illegal and unilateral path that was “contrary to the normal behavior in any democratic country like ours.” Undeterred by the government’s threat to seize control of Catalonia, separatists in the region’s Parliament passed a resolution to “create a Catalan republic as an independent state.” In protest, lawmakers opposed to independence walked out of the chamber before the vote.
“What would France or Germany do,” he asked lawmakers, if faced with a similar insurrection? Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy urged the Spanish Senate to invoke Article 155 of Spain’s Constitution, allowing him to impose direct rule on Catalonia, as the country’s careened into its greatest constitutional crisis since it embraced democracy in 1978.
Mr. Rajoy’s unprecedented call for the Senate to invoke Article 155 of Spain’s Constitution, allowing him to impose direct rule on Catalonia, came amid the country’s greatest constitutional crisis since it embraced democracy in 1978. In his address to the Senate, Mr. Rajoy said there was “no alternative” because the Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, and his separatist cabinet had pursued an illegal and unilateral path that was “contrary to the normal behavior in any democratic country like ours.”
The Senate will vote on the measure later on Friday. Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan leader, had come close on Thursday to calling early regional elections, but dropped the idea and instead told Catalonia’s Parliament that it would make a decision on independence the next day. Mr. Puigdemont leads a fragile separatist coalition that has 72 of the Catalan Parliament’s 135 seats.
The prime minister’s appearance before the Senate in Madrid followed a day of chaotic wavering in the Catalan capital, Barcelona. On Thursday, Mr. Puigdemont set and delayed news conferences in which he was expected to call for early regional elections. But he dropped the idea and instead told the regional Parliament to decide on independence later on Friday. During the parliamentary debate that preceded the vote, Catalan lawmakers traded accusations and in turn described the occasion as “historic” and “happy,” or “tragic” and a serious violation of Spain’s Constitution.
He said he had made the decision after failing to secure a commitment from the central government that it would not take control of the region if he called elections. Addressing the Catalan Parliament in Spanish, Carlos Carrizo, a lawmaker from Ciudadanos, a party that opposes secession, told Mr. Puigdemont and separatist lawmakers that, far from creating a new Catalan republic, “you will go down in history for having fractured Catalonia and for sinking the institutions of Catalonia.”
Under Article 155 of Spain’s Constitution, Mr. Rajoy is preparing to take full control over Catalonia’s administration and replace Mr. Puigdemont and Catalonia’s entire leadership. In front of the assembly, he tore apart the document of the independence resolution.
The measure is expected to be approved later on Friday by the Spanish Senate, in which Mr. Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party holds a majority of the seats. “Your job is not to promise unrealizable dreams but to improve the daily lives of people,” he added.
Mr. Rajoy said that he plans to keep the emergency measures in place for less than six months, and to organize regional elections to choose a new Catalan government within that time. In the streets outside Parliament, not far from a boisterous pro-independence rally, a few Catalans quietly expressed similar frustrations at the decision to declare independence.
The Catalan Parliament began meeting in Barcelona around noon local time, and could vote to declare independence. An alliance of separatist parties has controlled the Catalan Parliament since 2015, after winning elections, but with only 48 percent of the votes. The Oct. 1 referendum did not give the Catalan government the legitimacy to vote to secede, said Federico Escolar, 53, a cafe owner.
“Most of the people who would have voted ‘no’ did not participate,” Mr. Escolar said while smoking a cigarette outside his cafe. “It was not a proper referendum. It was illegal.”
Walking into a nearby subway station, Christina Juana, a 38-year-old social worker, agreed.
“Neither Puigdemont nor the Catalan government knows exactly what the Catalan people’s opinion is,” Ms. Juana said.
Mr. Puigdemont’s government has been flouting Spain’s Constitution since early September, when separatist lawmakers voted to hold a binding referendum on independence on Oct. 1 as a key step toward statehood.Mr. Puigdemont’s government has been flouting Spain’s Constitution since early September, when separatist lawmakers voted to hold a binding referendum on independence on Oct. 1 as a key step toward statehood.
Catalans who went to the polls voted overwhelmingly to approve independence, but the referendum took place without legal guarantees and with most opponents of independence staying away.Catalans who went to the polls voted overwhelmingly to approve independence, but the referendum took place without legal guarantees and with most opponents of independence staying away.
The referendum was marred by clashes between the Spanish national police and Catalan citizens that left hundreds injured, including police officers.The referendum was marred by clashes between the Spanish national police and Catalan citizens that left hundreds injured, including police officers.
Large crowds gathered outside the Catalan Parliament on Friday in anticipation of what they hoped would be a historic day for Catalonia. Before the independence vote, Marta Rovira, a separatist lawmaker, told the assembly that “today we start on a new path” to build “a better country.” She added: “We are creating a country free of repression.”
The Catalan lawmakers could face prosecution for sedition, or even rebellion, for having voted to declare independence.
They also met as the Spanish Senate was voting to allow Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to end Catalonia’s administrative autonomy, using emergency powers under Article 155 of the national Constitution. Marta Ribas, a lawmaker, said that Madrid’s measures were unjustified, but also argued that “it’s a mistake to respond to one outrageous act with another outrageous act.”
She added: “A declaration of independence won’t protect us from the 155, quite the contrary.”
Before the vote for independence, large crowds had gathered outside the Catalan Parliament on Friday in anticipation of what they hoped would be a historic day for Catalonia.
Many were draped in flags as they watched the parliamentary debate on two large screens, cheering during speeches by pro-independence lawmakers and hissing during those of their opponents. When proceedings hit a lull, the crowds cycled through a series of pro-independence chants.Many were draped in flags as they watched the parliamentary debate on two large screens, cheering during speeches by pro-independence lawmakers and hissing during those of their opponents. When proceedings hit a lull, the crowds cycled through a series of pro-independence chants.
“Spanish occupiers!” went one, a reference to the national police officers who tried to stop the Oct. 1 referendum by force. “Leave Catalonia!” “Spanish occupiers!” was one, a reference to the national police officers who tried to stop the Oct. 1 referendum by force. “Leave Catalonia!”
“I feel very, very happy,” said Emili Ara, a 79-year-old retired realtor, who said he had hoped for Catalan independence for most of his life, even in the days when the concept had little widespread appeal. “The people living here, both those who voted yes and those who voted no, will be able to see their sons and grandsons enjoy a much better future,” he added. “I feel very, very happy,” said Emili Ara, a 79-year-old retired realtor, who said he had hoped for Catalan independence for most of his life, even in the days when the concept had little widespread appeal.
The optimism of Mr. Ara and his family was not dented by the prospect of the Spanish government moving to take over administration of the region. “The people living here, both those who voted yes and those who voted no, will be able to see their sons and grandsons enjoy a much better future,” he added.
The optimism of Mr. Ara and his family was not dented by the prospect of the Spanish government’s moving to take over administration of the region.
“We have to declare independence even if we end up with less autonomy than we have now,” said Eulalia Ara, Mr. Ara’s 39-year-old daughter. “We can’t continue in this situation because we are being repressed by the Spanish state.”“We have to declare independence even if we end up with less autonomy than we have now,” said Eulalia Ara, Mr. Ara’s 39-year-old daughter. “We can’t continue in this situation because we are being repressed by the Spanish state.”
And even “if they steal our Parliament and our government,” said Jordi Ara, Mr. Ara’s 18-year-old grandson, “we will still have our beliefs!”And even “if they steal our Parliament and our government,” said Jordi Ara, Mr. Ara’s 18-year-old grandson, “we will still have our beliefs!”
Elsewhere in the crowd, separatist protesters saw little problem with declaring independence even though less than 43 percent of voters participated in the Oct. 1 referendum. Elsewhere in the crowd, separatist protesters saw little problem with declaring independence even though less than 43 percent of voters participated in the referendum.
“Two months ago, I would have said that 43 percent was not enough,” said Ester Romero, a 25-year-old sales manager, who came to the rally after picking up her degree certificate. “But after all the oppression, after all the police hitting people during the referendum, it’s enough.” “Two months ago, I would have said that 43 percent was not enough,” said Ester Romero, 25, a sales manager who had come to the rally after picking up her degree certificate.
“But after all the oppression, after all the police hitting people during the referendum, it’s enough.”