The Catalan parliament has declared independence from Spain following a secret ballot which received 70 votes in favor of independent rule, 10 against, and two blank ballots. The vote was boycotted by opposition members.
29 October 2017
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.
28 October 2017
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.
Peru has expressed "full support" for the Government of Spain and "rejected any act or unilateral declaration of independence" which violates the Spanish Constitution and laws.
Costa Rica does not recognize Catalonia's declaration of independence. The Central American country considers the decision of the Catalan Parliament to be "contrary to the rule of law, democracy, and the Constitution," Spanish international news agency, Agencia EFE reported.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile, Heraldo Muñoz says his country will support the territorial integrity of Spain.
Paraguay's Foreign Ministry expressed support for the measures taken by the government of Mariano Rajoy to stop the pro-independence push in Catalonia, urging the separatist region to "adhere to the rule of law."
27 October 2017
The government of Ecuador voiced concern over the crisis in Catalonia, calling on all parties to resolve the crisis through "dialogue within the framework of the Constitution."
Mexico will not recognize Catalonia as an independent country, the country's president said on Twitter.
"Mexico will not recognize the unilateral declaration of independence of Catalonia," Pena Nieto wrote. "We hope for a political and peaceful solution."
The Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, has condemned the disorderly conduct by some Unionist supporters, which she called “ultras,” in the Catalan capital throughout the day.
In the afternoon, a group of protesters with Spanish flags attacked Catalunya Ràdio, trying to smash windows and threatening the station’s employees. The police force of Catalonia, Mossos d'Esquadra, had to intervene to protect the building. There were also other incidents involving anti-independence activists later in the day.
“Fascism neither in Barcelona nor anywhere,” Colau said on Twitter, condemning the “violent ultras.”
Ines Arrimadas, leader of the Citizens Party in Catalonia, also condemned “all the insults, attacks and intimidations of journalists and media,” calling on pro-Madrid supporters to allow the press to work freely.
Scotland, which has a strong national movement that seeks to gain independence from London, has voiced support for Catalonia, saying that the EU now has a “political and moral responsibility” to support dialogue between Madrid and Barcelona.
Catalonia “must have the ability to determine their own future,” Scotland’s External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop was quoted as saying by The Scotsman. “The imposition of direct rule cannot be the solution and should be of concern to democrats everywhere.”
“We understand and respect the position of the Catalan Government. While Spain has the right to oppose independence, the people of Catalonia must have the ability to determine their own future,” Hyslop said.
Helge Skaara, the Norwegian Ambassador to Spain said on Twitter that Oslo "does not recognize the unilateral declaration of independence of Catalonia," adding, that Norway supports dialogue between Madrid and Barcelona.
The Catalan National Assembly (ANC) said "it is customary not to comment on the policy of foreign governments," when asked about the measures adopted by Mariano Rajoy's cabinet to dissolve the administration in Barcelona.
Russia has not changed its position on the question of Catalonia’s independence, Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told RIA. Moscow had previously said that it views the developments in Catalonia as an internal affair of Spain. Russia also maintains that all disagreements could be solved through dialogue within the framework of Spanish and international law.
“We have made [our position] public repeatedly… We expressed this position before the referendum, during the referendum and immediately after the referendum, and also repeatedly when appropriate steps were taken by Madrid, [and by] regional representatives. I want to stress once again that our position has not changed,” Zakharova said.
London will not recognize Catalonia’s independence, Prime Minister Theresa May’s office said in a statement. The unilateral declaration of independence “is based on a vote that was declared illegal by the Spanish courts.” “We continue to want to see the rule of law upheld, the Spanish Constitution respected, and Spanish unity preserved,” the statement added.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Spain is firing the Catalan government as part of the measures approved by the Senate following the region's declaration of independence. Rajoy also announced that the Catalan parliament is being dissolved and new regional elections will take place on December 21.
Serbia has denounced the Catalan parliament’s declaration, stating that such actions, as with Kosovo’s secession, are illegal. It said the only difference between the two was the reaction of the international community.
“Serbia supports the territorial integrity of Spain and this act contradicts the Spanish constitutional system. Unlike how other countries have reacted to the Kosovo unilateral declaration of independence - Serbia firmly rejects any similar acts anywhere in the world, including Catalonia,” Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said.
European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said in a Twitter thread that nobody in the EU will recognize Catalonia’s statement of independence.
Police in Barcelona are regulating access to Plaza de San Jaime due to the large crowds gathered there.
French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his support for Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, regarding the crisis taking place in Catalonia.
“I have always said that I have one interlocutor in Spain; it is Prime Minister Rajoy,” Macron told journalists on the sidelines of a visit to French Guiana.
“There is a rule of law in Spain with constitutional rules. Mariano Rajoy wants these rules to be respected and he has my full support,” Macron added.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who was accompanying Macron, also said it was important to avoid any splits and “fractures” in the European Union bloc.
An extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers has been convened to approve measures authorized by the Spanish Senate on the basis of Article 155.
Pro-independence supporters are marching along Plaza de San Jaime in the center of Barcelona’s Old City.
Spain’s Constitutional Court is launching proceedings against the independence declaration, Reuters reports.
NATO says that Catalonia is a domestic issue that should be resolved by Spain.
“Spain is a committed ally, which makes important contributions to our shared security. The Catalonia issue is a domestic matter which should be resolved within Spain’s constitutional order,” a NATO official told Reuters.
The German government does not recognize Catalan’s declaration of independence, according to a statement shared on Twitter by German spokesman Steffen Seibert.
The prime minister of Belgium has appealed for “a peaceful solution" to the situation in Spain, "with respect for national and international order”.
Meanwhile, the Spanish flag has apparently been removed from the council building in the Catalan city of Girona following the independence vote, according to images on social media.
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont called on fellow separatists to remain peaceful ahead of an expected crackdown by Spanish authorities.
“In the days ahead we must keep to our values of pacifism and dignity. It’s in our, in your hands to build the republic.”
US State Department backs Spanish government’s measures to keep Spain united, stating “Catalonia is an integral part of Spain.”
The main secessionist group in Catalonia, the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), urged civil servants not to follow orders from the Spanish government after Madrid authorized direct rule of the region.
The ANC called on Catalan civil servants to respond with “peaceful resistance”.
Barcelona mayor Ada Colau said the declaration of independence made in the name of Catalonia does not represent the majority of Catalans.
“Not in my name,” Colau said in a Facebook post
Slovenian Socialist party leaders have congratulated Catalonia on declaring independence.
Finnish MP Mikko Kärnä has also sent his congratulations and promised to put forward a motion to the Finnish Parliament for recognition of Catalonian independence.
European Council President Donald Tusk says the EU will continue to speak only to Spain.
The Spanish Senate has approved direct rule over Catalonia from Madrid. The cabinet is expected to convene at 4 pm GMT to adopt the first measures to govern the region.
This could include dismissing the local government and assuming direct supervision of Catalonia’s police forces.
Pro-independence supporters havestarted celebrating outside parliament in Barcelona.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is calling for calm amid the Catalan parliament’s decision, promising that “the rule of law will restore legality in Catalonia”.