Politics of Catalonia

The Catalan parliament on Friday afternoon declared the region's independence from Spain.

Members of this parliament decided in a secret ballot - boycotted by the opposition.

The ongoing political conflict between the government of Spain and the Generalitat of Catalonia over the issue of Catalan independence has once again proved that referendum could be a dangerous weapon in a democratic structure.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont kept friends and foes guessing on Wednesday on whether he intends to unilaterally declare independence as the Spanish government prepares to impose direct rule to stop the region breaking away, Reuters reports.

Spanish King Felipe VI was named last night as a persona non grata in the city council of the Catalan city of Girona, where the separatists have strong positions, according to TASS.

CATALONIA is set to defy any attempt by Madrid to impose direct rule over the region which will see the region's police stand in defiance of control from the Spanish capital, The Daily Express reports.

Representatives of the government and parliament in Catalonia have warned that civil disobedience may be possible if Madrid actually triggered the constitutional clause stopping the autonomous rights of the region, reports sega. 

The EC says that its position on Catalonia remained unchanged after Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy said the Constitution's Article 155 would be triggered.

The EC says that its position on Catalonia remained unchanged after Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy said the Constitution's Article 155 would be triggered.

The Spanish government has agreed with the opposition Socialists (PSOE) to hold regional elections in January in Catalonia as part of the extraordinary package of measures to temporarily impose direct rule on the region, Socialist politician Carmen Calvo said in an interview on national television on Friday, cited by Reutrers. 

The Government of Spain stated that on Saturday it will begin the procedure for invoking Article 155 of its Constitution, which will suspend the autonomous status of Catalonia.