Catalonia declares independence from Spain

Catalan police chief, Josep Lluis Trapero, has officially resigned after the government in Madrid ordered his dismissal. In a two-page resignation letter, the commander urged his colleagues to show loyalty to the new Madrid-appointed chief of the Mossos d'Esquadra, Ferran Lopez.

Madrid has officially taken direct control of Catalonia and fired the defiant provincial leadership, according to a decree by Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy’s cabinet published in the government’s official newspaper, Boletin Oficial del Estado (BOE). The Spanish government has handed control of Catalonia to Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria. The document also lists measures aimed at stripping Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, as well as the regional government, of all legal and statutory powers. Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Rajoy announced the dismissal of Puigdemont and his cabinet, as well as the head of the regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra. He also dissolved the Catalan parliament and announced a snap election will be held in the region on December 21.

Finnish MP for Lapland Mikko Karna said he is planning to submit a motion to the Finnish parliament, calling for Catalonia to be recognized.

“Congratulations to the independent Republic of Catalonia. Next week I will submit a motion to the Finnish Parliament for your recognition,” Karna tweeted.

The EU “doesn't need any more cracks, more splits,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told journalists while on a trip to French Guiana.

“We shouldn’t insert ourselves into what is an internal debate for Spain, but I wouldn’t want the European Union to consist of 95 member states in the future,” he said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also rejected Catalan's declaration of independence.

“Canada recognizes one united Spain,” Trudeau said in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Canadian Press reported. “We understand there are significant internal discussions that they are going through right now and we simply call for those discussions to be done according to the rule of law, according to the Spanish constitution, according to the principles of international law," he said.

The foundation for the Defense of the Spanish Nation ( Defensa de la Nación Española) has meanwhile called for a march to show unity with Madrid. The group is calling on people to take to the streets Saturday.

The Bloc Québécois, a Canadian political party devoted to promoting the sovereignty of Quebec, has called on Canada and Quebec to recognize Catalonia as an independent nation.

"Catalonia 194th country in the United Nations, Quebec and Canada must recognize the new country of Catalonia. The process has been totally democratic and peaceful in respect of international law," the leader of the party, Martine Ouellet wrote on Facebook.

The Honduran government "does not recognize the unilateral declaration of independence" issued by the Catalan Parliament, its ministry of foreign affairs said, EFE reported.