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Catalonia vote: Spain expected to impose direct rule Catalonia vote: Spain expected to impose direct rule
(about 4 hours later)
The Spanish cabinet is expected to approve measures allowing the government to impose direct rule over Catalonia. The Spanish government is set to hold a special cabinet meeting to approve measures to take direct control over Catalonia.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy meets with his cabinet almost three weeks after the region held a referendum. The meeting comes almost three weeks after the region held an independence referendum, which was ruled illegal by the country's supreme court.
The Spanish government says the vote was illegal, but Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont says he has been given a mandate to declare independence. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has refused to abandon independence, arguing that he has a mandate.
As a result, the central government is preparing to take back power. Spain's central government is now preparing to take back power.
It is expected to trigger Article 155 of the constitution, which allows it to impose direct rule in a crisis, taking back a region's devolved powers, for the first time. The government is expected to trigger Article 155 of the constitution, which allows it to impose direct rule in a crisis. It has never before been invoked in democratic Spain.
Other moves may include taking control of Catalonia's regional police force. Catalonia has a population of about 7.5 million and currently enjoys significant autonomy from Spain, including control over its own policing, education and healthcare.
However, Article 155 does not give the government the power to fully suspend autonomy. On Saturday, the Spanish cabinet will discuss dissolving the region's government and holding elections in January, as well as other measures including taking control of the regional police force.
The country has been in crisis since the vote was held on 1 October. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the measures were aimed at restoring the rule of law and had been agreed with Spain's opposition parties.
Of the 43% of Catalans who reportedly voted, 90% were in favour of independence. Most anti-independence voters boycotted the ballot. The steps will then be debated by a Senate committee before a final vote. Mr Rajoy's conservative Popular Party (PP) holds a majority in the Senate, meaning the proposals are likely to pass.
Catalonian authorities are seeking full independence from Spain. The country has been in crisis since a disputed referendum was held in the region on 1 October.
Of the 43% of Catalans said to have voted, 90% were in favour of independence. But many anti-independence supporters boycotted the ballot, arguing it was not valid.
Mr Puigdemont and other regional leaders then signed a declaration of independence, but immediately suspended it in order to allow for talks.Mr Puigdemont and other regional leaders then signed a declaration of independence, but immediately suspended it in order to allow for talks.
However, Madrid responded by demanding to know whether or not Catalonia had declared independence, setting two deadlines for Mr Puigdemont to provide them with an answer. Madrid responded by demanding to know whether or not Catalonia had declared independence, setting two deadlines for Mr Puigdemont to provide an answer.
Both have passed, and the Spanish government insists it must now intervene in order to uphold the rule of law. Both deadlines passed with no response, and the Spanish government now insists it must intervene in the region to uphold the rule of law.
However, this leaves Mr Rajoy in a delicate position, says the BBC's Madrid correspondent Tom Burridge. However, this leaves Mr Rajoy in a delicate position, says the BBC's Tom Burridge in Zaragoza, Catalonia.
Any move, like taking control over Catalonia's regional police force, action against Catalonia's public TV channel or replacing Catalan officials with people loyal to Madrid has the potential to backfire, he says. Any move, like taking control over Catalonia's regional police force, action against Catalonia's public TV channel or replacing Catalan officials with people loyal to Madrid has the potential to backfire, he said.
Among the measures being put in place are regional elections, according to Spain's socialist party (PSOE). Spain's King Felipe VI said on Friday that Catalonia was pursuing an "unacceptable secession attempt" and called for the crisis to be resolved "through legitimate democratic institutions".
PSOE politician Carmen Calvo announced the agreement to hold regional elections in an interview on national television on Friday. It has not been confirmed by Mr Rajoy's conservative Popular Party (PP). "We do not want to give up that which we have built together," he said.
She appealed to Mr Puigdemont to endorse the elections.
Catalonia's government would be dissolved ahead of such a vote.