Madrid Sacks Catalan Government, Snap Elections Scheduled for December 21

MADRID- Spain’s central government has announced the dissolution of the regional parliament in Catalonia, with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy declaring that new elections will be held in the region on December 21.

Following the Catalan parliament’s earlier vote on Friday, in which it made the decision to announce the region’s independence from Spain, the government in Madrid fired the cabinet, RT reported.

 “We believe it is urgent to listen to Catalan citizens, to all of them, so that they can decide their future and nobody can act outside the law on their behalf,” Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a televised speech, as cited by Reuters

Madrid will seek to pronounce Catalonia’s declaration of independence illegal, the PM stated. In the meantime, ministers in central government will assume powers of Catalan administration before the snap elections.

Earlier the Spanish government bulletin publisheded the Senate’s decision approving the government-initiated measures to resolve the Catalonia crisis.

According to Itar Tass, this step will provide Madrid with an opportunity to activate Article 155 of the country’s Constitution, which has never been implemented before. The article will allow the Spanish government to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy. According to Madrid, it is a necessary move given the Catalan authorities’ refusal to abide by their obligations prescribed by law. Besides, the Spanish government says that the Catalan authorities’ actions damage the state’s interests.

The measures particularly stipulate the dismissal of Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont, Vice President Oriol Junqueras and heads of regional government’s departments, as well as holding regional election within a six months’ period to restore law and order.

The Catalan Parliament, in a secret ballot, voted in favor of a motion to declare independence from Spain in the form of a republic. Out of 135 lawmakers, only 82 took part in the vote, of which 70 voted in favor of independence with 10 against. Two lawmakers cast blank ballots.

 R.S