Catalonia crisis: Spain moves to suspend autonomy
(VOVWORLD) - Spain is to begin the process of suspending Catalonia's autonomy from Saturday, as the region's leader threatens to declare independence.
 There are fears that the latest moves could lead to unrest in Catalonia |
The government said ministers would meet to discuss activating Article 155 of the constitution, allowing it to assume control of the region. Catalonia's leader said the region's parliament would vote on independence if Spain continued "repression". Catalans voted to secede in a referendum deemed illegal by Spain. Some fear the latest moves could spark further unrest after mass demonstrations before and since the ballot on 1 October.
Article 155 of Spain's 1978 constitution, which cemented democratic rule after the death of dictator General Francisco Franco three years earlier, allows Madrid to impose direct rule in a crisis but it has never been invoked.