Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain

The Catalan regional parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, just as the Spanish government appears set to impose direct rule.

The move was was backed 70-10 in a ballot boycotted by opposition MPs.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy earlier told senators direct rule was needed to return “law, democracy and stability” to Catalonia.

The crisis began when Catalans backed independence in a disputed vote earlier this month.

The Catalan government said that of the 43% who took part in the referendum, 90% were in favour of independence.

But Spain’s Constitutional Court had ruled the vote illegal.

BBC reports that Spain’s Senate is still to vote on whether for the first time to enact Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which empowers the government to take “all measures necessary to compel” a region in case of a crisis.

It would enable Madrid to fire Catalan leaders, and take control of the region’s finances, police and public media.

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.

There were 214 votes in favour and 47 against.

Promising to restore the rule of law to Catalonia, Mr Rajoy said “over 40 years Spain has become [an] economic power and Catalonia will not destroy that”.

He will hold a cabinet meeting shortly 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.