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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Catalans declare independence as Madrid imposes direct rule | Catalans declare independence as Madrid imposes direct rule |
| (8 days later) | |
| The Catalan regional parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, while the Spanish parliament has approved direct rule over the region. | The Catalan regional parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, while the Spanish parliament has approved direct rule over the region. |
| Catalan MPs easily approved the move amid an opposition boycott. | Catalan MPs easily approved the move amid an opposition boycott. |
| Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had told senators direct rule was needed to return "law, democracy and stability" to Catalonia. | Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had told senators direct rule was needed to return "law, democracy and stability" to Catalonia. |
| The crisis began earlier this month when Catalonia held a controversial referendum on independence. | The crisis began earlier this month when Catalonia held a controversial referendum on independence. |
| The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part, 90% were in favour of independence. But Spain's Constitutional Court had ruled the vote illegal. | The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part, 90% were in favour of independence. But Spain's Constitutional Court had ruled the vote illegal. |
| What happened in the Catalan parliament? | What happened in the Catalan parliament? |
| A motion declaring independence was approved on Friday with 70 in favour, 10 against, and two abstentions in the 135-seat chamber. | A motion declaring independence was approved on Friday with 70 in favour, 10 against, and two abstentions in the 135-seat chamber. |
| The measure calls for the transfer of legal powers from Spain to an independent Catalonia. | The measure calls for the transfer of legal powers from Spain to an independent Catalonia. |
| But the Spanish Constitutional Court is likely to declare it illegal, while the US, UK, Germany and France all expressed support for Spanish unity. | But the Spanish Constitutional Court is likely to declare it illegal, while the US, UK, Germany and France all expressed support for Spanish unity. |
| European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU "doesn't need any more cracks, more splits". | European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU "doesn't need any more cracks, more splits". |
| Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has called for supporters to "maintain the momentum" in a peaceful manner. | Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has called for supporters to "maintain the momentum" in a peaceful manner. |
| Crowds have been celebrating the declaration of independence and Spanish flags have been removed from some regional government buildings in Catalonia. | Crowds have been celebrating the declaration of independence and Spanish flags have been removed from some regional government buildings in Catalonia. |
| The mood in the crowd | The mood in the crowd |
| By James Reynolds in Barcelona | By James Reynolds in Barcelona |
| The pro-independence crowd outside the parliament followed the session vote by vote. Some had their mobile phones on speaker, to allow listeners at the other end a taste of the atmosphere. | The pro-independence crowd outside the parliament followed the session vote by vote. Some had their mobile phones on speaker, to allow listeners at the other end a taste of the atmosphere. |
| The crowd met every Yes vote with a cheer - and every No with a boo. At the end, there was a huge cheer. | The crowd met every Yes vote with a cheer - and every No with a boo. At the end, there was a huge cheer. |
| "We're finally free," a woman next to me said, as she began to cry. "We are oppressed here. We're fighting for our freedom." | "We're finally free," a woman next to me said, as she began to cry. "We are oppressed here. We're fighting for our freedom." |
| But around the corner, away from the demonstration, views were different. | But around the corner, away from the demonstration, views were different. |
| "It's disastrous," said one man. "It's the result of an extended manipulation which does not reflect the will of the Catalan people." | "It's disastrous," said one man. "It's the result of an extended manipulation which does not reflect the will of the Catalan people." |
| What will the Spanish government do next? | What will the Spanish government do next? |
| Soon after the vote at the regional parliament, the Senate - Spain's upper house - made the unprecedented step of approving measures allowing the Spanish government to impose direct rule over Catalonia. | Soon after the vote at the regional parliament, the Senate - Spain's upper house - made the unprecedented step of approving measures allowing the Spanish government to impose direct rule over Catalonia. |
| There were 214 votes in favour and 47 against. | There were 214 votes in favour and 47 against. |
| Urging calm, Mr Rajoy said: "Spain is a serious country, it is a great nation and we are not prepared in any way to allow some people to liquidate our constitution." | Urging calm, Mr Rajoy said: "Spain is a serious country, it is a great nation and we are not prepared in any way to allow some people to liquidate our constitution." |
| He is holding a cabinet meeting to decide what measures to take. | He is holding a cabinet meeting to decide what measures to take. |
| It could include the firing of Catalan leaders, and the Spanish government taking control of the region's finances, police and publicly owned media. | It could include the firing of Catalan leaders, and the Spanish government taking control of the region's finances, police and publicly owned media. |
| How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
| After the 1 October referendum, Mr Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but delayed implementation to allow talks with the Spanish government. | After the 1 October referendum, Mr Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but delayed implementation to allow talks with the Spanish government. |
| A deadline set by Madrid for him to clarify his intentions came and went, prompting Mr Rajoy to announce plans to impose direct rule. | A deadline set by Madrid for him to clarify his intentions came and went, prompting Mr Rajoy to announce plans to impose direct rule. |
| Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions and enjoys a high degree of autonomy. | Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions and enjoys a high degree of autonomy. |
| But many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco. | But many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco. |
| Catalans are divided on the question of independence - an opinion poll earlier this year said 41% were in favour and 49% were opposed to independence. | Catalans are divided on the question of independence - an opinion poll earlier this year said 41% were in favour and 49% were opposed to independence. |
| Does Catalonia want to leave Spain? | Does Catalonia want to leave Spain? |
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