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| Catalonia: Spain celebrates National Day amid political turmoil | Catalonia: Spain celebrates National Day amid political turmoil |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Spain's royal family has attended a National Day military parade amid a political crisis sparked by Catalonia's disputed independence referendum. | |
| Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told MPs on Wednesday that democratic Spain was facing its most serious threat for 40 years. Madrid may impose direct rule. | Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told MPs on Wednesday that democratic Spain was facing its most serious threat for 40 years. Madrid may impose direct rule. |
| Mr Rajoy has given the Catalan leader five days to clarify whether or not he has declared independence. | Mr Rajoy has given the Catalan leader five days to clarify whether or not he has declared independence. |
| Human Rights Watch says Spanish police used excessive force in Catalonia. | Human Rights Watch says Spanish police used excessive force in Catalonia. |
| The US-based international rights group says it documented "excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators" in Girona and two villages in Catalonia during the 1 October independence referendum. | The US-based international rights group says it documented "excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators" in Girona and two villages in Catalonia during the 1 October independence referendum. |
| It said the Spanish government must conduct an "effective investigation" into the incidents, which occurred during a vote that Spain's Constitutional Court had declared illegal. | It said the Spanish government must conduct an "effective investigation" into the incidents, which occurred during a vote that Spain's Constitutional Court had declared illegal. |
| There was shock and outrage in Catalonia and elsewhere at the violence of Spanish Civil Guards and national police. | There was shock and outrage in Catalonia and elsewhere at the violence of Spanish Civil Guards and national police. |
| The National Day is a public holiday and commemorates the Christian reconquest of Spain and Christopher Columbus's first arrival in the Americas in 1492. | The National Day is a public holiday and commemorates the Christian reconquest of Spain and Christopher Columbus's first arrival in the Americas in 1492. |
| Several thousand supporters of Spanish unity, including members of a far-right nationalist group, rallied in Barcelona, waving Spanish and Catalan flags. | |
| A large military parade took place in Madrid and other events are being held across the country. | |
| Catalan officials say almost 90% of voters backed independence on 1 October, with a turnout of 43%. Anti-independence voters largely boycotted the ballot and there were reports of irregularities. | |
| Catalonia, one of Spain's wealthiest regions, has seen several major companies announce plans to move their head offices elsewhere because of the crisis. | |
| Following days of intense speculation, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence in Barcelona on Tuesday, but immediately suspended its implementation to allow for talks with Madrid. | Following days of intense speculation, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence in Barcelona on Tuesday, but immediately suspended its implementation to allow for talks with Madrid. |
| The move frustrated hardline separatists and brought scorn from the Spanish government. | The move frustrated hardline separatists and brought scorn from the Spanish government. |
| After holding an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Mr Rajoy accused Mr Puigdemont of having created "deliberate confusion" and said he wanted to restore "certainty". | After holding an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Mr Rajoy accused Mr Puigdemont of having created "deliberate confusion" and said he wanted to restore "certainty". |
| He said his government had asked the regional government to clarify whether or not it had declared independence. | He said his government had asked the regional government to clarify whether or not it had declared independence. |
| If Mr Puigdemont confirms by Monday that he has, he will be given a further three days to withdraw the declaration. | If Mr Puigdemont confirms by Monday that he has, he will be given a further three days to withdraw the declaration. |
| Failing that, Madrid will invoke Article 155 of the constitution allowing it to suspend the region's autonomy and impose direct rule. Article 155 has never been used before. | Failing that, Madrid will invoke Article 155 of the constitution allowing it to suspend the region's autonomy and impose direct rule. Article 155 has never been used before. |
| 'Restore normality' | 'Restore normality' |
| "There is an urgent need to put an end to the situation that Catalonia is going through - to return it to safety, tranquillity and calm and to do that as quickly as possible," Mr Rajoy said. | "There is an urgent need to put an end to the situation that Catalonia is going through - to return it to safety, tranquillity and calm and to do that as quickly as possible," Mr Rajoy said. |
| He accused separatists of hatching an "anti-democratic plan foisting their will on all the people of Catalonia", and said the Spanish government had had no choice but to restore order. | He accused separatists of hatching an "anti-democratic plan foisting their will on all the people of Catalonia", and said the Spanish government had had no choice but to restore order. |
| Addressing parliament later, Mr Rajoy said Spanish democracy was "experiencing one of the most serious moments in its history". | Addressing parliament later, Mr Rajoy said Spanish democracy was "experiencing one of the most serious moments in its history". |
| "It falls to the Catalan leader to restore constitutional normality," he added, rejecting any suggestion of outside mediation. | "It falls to the Catalan leader to restore constitutional normality," he added, rejecting any suggestion of outside mediation. |
| He said he was willing to negotiate on the issue of regional autonomy and changes to the constitution, but this had to be within the framework of the law. | He said he was willing to negotiate on the issue of regional autonomy and changes to the constitution, but this had to be within the framework of the law. |