Sabah Mannan
Catalonia’s capital city Barcelona was abuzz with excitement over the declaration of independence from Spain. However, the triumph did not last long as Spain was quick to strip Catalonia of its autonomy and take charge of its government.
Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy who vowed to crush the Catalan independence bid was successful as he made the takeover official by publishing special measures online early on Saturday in the country’s gazette. Rajoy, who now replaces Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont as the top decision-maker in the region, has also dismissed of Catalan of its own parliament, police force and public broadcaster as well as a government and president. Mr. Rajoy said the declaration of independence “not only goes against the law but is a criminal act” and called for a new regional election for December 21. The Spanish government discharged Catalonia’s regional police, the Mossos d’Esquadra and sacked Catalonia’s highest-ranking policeman, Josep Lluis Trapero. An official state bulletin handed control of Catalonia to Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria.
At present, Catalonia and the rest of Spain are locked in a standoff. The central government hasn’t taken action beyond dismissing the government and issuing decrees. Meanwhile, the Catalans are unlikely to accept the validity of these decrees.
Source: CNN, BBC, UK Business Insider and Daily Sabah