Catalan leader warns crisis will escalate if Spain removes powers

Catalonia's leader Carles Puigdemont warned Thursday that the crisis over his drive for independence would escalate if Spain follows through on its vow to suspend the region's autonomy.

File image of Catalonian regional President, Carles Puigdemont (2-L), and Deputy President, Oriol Junqueras (L),

File image of Catalonian regional President, Carles Puigdemont (2-L), and Deputy President, Oriol Junqueras (L), Source: AAP

The government "will create an even more serious, extraordinary situation by seizing Catalonia's political autonomy," he wrote in a letter to the Spanish senate.

The senate is poised to approve measures on Friday to take away Catalonia's powers.

Puigdemont said that would be an "affront" to Spain's constitution.

In the senate, the central government is preparing to invoke the never-before-used Article 155 of the constitution which allows it to intervene in Catalonia.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative government plans to use this article to strip Puigdemont and the rest of his executive of their political powers. It also plans to take control of Catalonia's regional police force, public broadcaster and parliament.

Those measures are intended to last for up to six months, until regional elections are called and a new Catalan parliament is sworn in.

Spain's senate, where Rajoy's Popular Party has a majority, will convene Friday to formally approve measures under Article 155.

Puigdemont said the measures would violate "the principle of political autonomy" of Spain's regions. He added that the constitution does not give the central government blanket powers.

The Spanish constitution states Spain is "indivisible". But Puigdemont's separatist government declared itself "above" the constitution when it held an independence referendum on October 1.

That vote istelf was ruled unconstitutional by the courts.

The Catalan parliament is scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon to formulate a response to Madrid.



Share
Published 26 October 2017 8:36pm
Updated 26 October 2017 9:41pm
Source: AFP, SBS

Tags

Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world