crunch day for catalonia as madrid takes control
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Crunch day for Catalonia as Madrid takes control

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Crunch day for Catalonia as Madrid takes control

Catalans remain deeply divided
Barcelona - Al Maghrib Today

Spain enters uncharted and potentially perilous territory on Monday as Madrid moves to take over the running of Catalonia in response to the rebellious region's parliament unilaterally declaring independence.

Catalan leaders, dramatically sacked late Friday by the central Spanish government, have urged "democratic opposition" to Madrid, raising fears around Europe that Spain's worst crisis in decades might turn ugly.

"We cannot recognise the coup d'etat against Catalonia, nor any of the anti-democratic decisions" by the central Spanish government, Catalonia's deputy leader Oriol Junqueras, wrote in a Catalan newspaper this weekend.

It is unclear if Catalonia's now ex-leader Carles Puigdemont and the rest of his sacked executive will try to go to work in Barcelona on Monday. "We will see," a spokesman for the deposed regional government told AFP.

"If they decide themselves that they are the government of the republic (of Catalonia) then we will come out and support them," a source within the separatist camp told AFP. 

If they do try, Catalan police could be ordered by Madrid to stop them. Top police chiefs in Catalonia have already been replaced by Madrid. The outgoing head has urged officers to be loyal to their new superiors.

Local government offices have been ordered to remove photos of Puigdemont, a police spokesman said. Some 200,000 Catalan civil servants are now meant to take direct orders from Madrid.

Spain's Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said it was "hard to see" how Puigdemont and the others, who prosecutors may charge with a string of offences this week, "will go on governing".

"Reality is already sinking in, will continue sinking in and they will realise that they cannot do something without the authority of law," he told Britain's Sky News on Sunday.

On top of firing Catalonia's government -- an unprecedented step since Spain's return to democracy four decades ago -- Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dissolved its parliament and called December 21 elections for the region.

- Demo for unity -

With its own language and distinct culture, Catalonia accounts for about 16 percent of Spain's population and a fifth of the country's economy. 

The current crisis was sparked by a referendum on October 1 that saw Catalans vote massively in favour of the region, which already enjoys considerable autonomy, breaking away.

Turnout was only 43 percent -- separatists say a heavy-handed Spanish police operation prevented it from being higher -- and Rajoy's government declared it illegal.

After Friday's declaration of independence, Catalan lawmakers hugged and sang the Catalan anthem. The session was beamed onto giant screens outside and a crowd of 15,000 cheered every "yes" vote.

But on Sunday it was the turn of supporters of a united Spain, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets not of Madrid but of the Catalan capital Barcelona, waving national and European flags and chanting "Viva Espana".

Municipal police said the crowd numbered about 300,000 while organisers said 1.3 million turned out and the central government's representative in Catalonia put the figure at one million.

"We are all Catalonia," proclaimed a massive banner, as the crowd included parents with young children, retired couples and large groups of young people. Many chanted "Prison for Puigdemont".

"It was an act of madness that has brought us to the brink," said Alex Ramos, the vice-president of Societat Civil Catalana, a group opposed to independence that organised the rally.

"The streets don't belong just to the separatists," he added.

almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

crunch day for catalonia as madrid takes control crunch day for catalonia as madrid takes control

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

crunch day for catalonia as madrid takes control crunch day for catalonia as madrid takes control

 



Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:22 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 11:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Modern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 10:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Turkey detains dozens more
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today The Rake announces editorial updates

GMT 10:46 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

The Rake announces editorial updates
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Europe brings on charm and blue skies

GMT 11:51 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Europe brings on charm and blue skies
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today For the Variety of Interior Design Styles

GMT 10:46 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

For the Variety of Interior Design Styles
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today US Christian tourists see deep meaning

GMT 13:44 2018 Monday ,22 January

US Christian tourists see deep meaning
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 10:03 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 16:39 2017 Monday ,08 May

Coal won't make a comeback

GMT 14:44 2014 Monday ,03 March

Hollywood stars shine

GMT 01:24 2017 Monday ,08 May

Painter quietly documented life under Daesh

GMT 18:01 2012 Friday ,09 March

Rugby: Wallabies twins re-sign with Reds

GMT 07:28 2017 Monday ,25 December

Mosul celebrates first post-IS Christmas

GMT 03:30 2017 Tuesday ,24 January

Mexico’s masked wrestling heroes train police

GMT 09:44 2017 Thursday ,14 December

Chinese auto giant to end petrol vehicle

GMT 14:36 2017 Saturday ,08 July

Rogina says “Kafer Delhab” moved her away

GMT 16:32 2017 Friday ,10 February

Mollusk’s Ancestor Discovered in Morocco

GMT 09:58 2017 Sunday ,15 October

Immobile brace ends Juventus run

GMT 08:54 2011 Tuesday ,06 September

Firas al-Khatib 7th best soccer player of world

GMT 22:28 2012 Thursday ,20 September

Karzai sacks key ally of the West

GMT 07:36 2017 Friday ,24 February

Mental conflict endures

GMT 05:40 2014 Monday ,11 August

Societal dialogue activities begin in Sudan

GMT 22:41 2017 Wednesday ,18 January

Battery with Built in Fire Extinguisher Developed

GMT 00:42 2017 Friday ,24 February

One small step for man as astronaut controls robot

GMT 09:36 2017 Tuesday ,12 September

Iraq holds 1,300 IS women, children

GMT 05:20 2014 Thursday ,27 February

How to get rid of wrinkles naturally

GMT 20:39 2011 Thursday ,08 September

Mediterranean short film festival of Tangier in October

GMT 09:10 2011 Thursday ,20 October

Badria is a turning point in my life

GMT 18:09 2012 Monday ,17 September

Darfur rebel group ends child conscription

GMT 08:23 2016 Thursday ,15 December

Aleppo rebel evacuation back on
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
 
 Almaghrib Today Facebook,almaghrib today facebook  Almaghrib Today Twitter,almaghrib today twitter Almaghrib Today Rss,almaghrib today rss  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

.almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday almaghribtoday almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday