Spanish PM dissolves Catalonian government
1 min read
Spain’s central government last night dissolved the Catalan parliament and called snap local elections, in response to the region’s declaration of independence.
Carles Puigdemont was removed as president of the autonomous region, along with its chief of police. Central government ministries will take on local administration.
“Spain is living through a sad day,” Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy said. “We believe it is urgent to listen to Catalan citizens, to all of them, so that they can decide their future and nobody can act outside the law on their behalf.”
The Catalan parliament had earlier in the day voted 70-10 in favour of a unilateral declaration of independence, though the vote was boycotted by the opposition.
France, Germany, the UK and US have all refused to recognise the declaration. Theresa May's official spokesman said the declaration was based on a vote that had been declared illegal.
Catalonians voted in favour of independence on October 1, but the referendum was declared illegal by Spain’s Constitutional Court.
The Spanish prosecutor’s office will file charges of rebellion against Mr Puigdemont next week. New elections will be held in Catalonia on December 21.
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