Spain set to take control of Catalonia in independence fight

Men hold Esteladas (pro-independence Catalan flag) during a protest against the arrest of two Catalan separatist in front of the Spanish Government Delegation in Barcelona. (AP photo)

BARCELONA: The standoff over Catalonia intensified significantly Thursday as the Spanish government said it would take emergency measures to halt a secessionist drive after the leader of the restive region said that separatist lawmakers might declare independence.

The announcement came almost immediately after the Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, facing a second deadline to clarify Catalonia's intentions since it held an Oct. 1 referendum on independence, warned that regional lawmakers were prepared to break from Spain.

The Spanish government in Madrid, in turn, announced that it would convene an emergency Cabinet meeting on Saturday "to defend the general interest of Spaniards, among them the citizens of Catalonia."

The rapid succession of events moved what was already one of the gravest crises in Spain's relatively young democracy to a far more serious and unpredictable stage, with the prospect that Madrid could take over the running of Catalonia.

Such a step risks provoking a popular backlash and new street demonstrations in a region where many are already bridling at what they see as a heavy hand by the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

"A bad situation has become even worse today," said Argelia Queralt, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Barcelona. "Neither side seems really willing to yield an inch, which means there is only a very limited chance of any positive outcome to this conflict."

The Catalan government has said that 90% of those who voted in the referendum supported independence. But Rajoy's government and the courts had declared the vote illegal, and the police officers sent to block polling places wounded hundreds in clashes. Only about 40% of the Catalan electorate took part, after Madrid advised those who opposed secession to stay away from polling stations.

The latest statements from each side now move the dispute to the brink of explosive confrontation.

Inigo Mendez de Vigo, spokesman for the Spanish government, said at a news conference that Madrid was ready to use "all the means within its reach to restore the legality and constitutional order as soon as possible."

Yet such steps are fraught with uncertainty in a country that adopted its democratic constitution only in 1978, after the death of its long-time dictator, Gen Francisco Franco.

Last week, Rajoy initiated a request to invoke a broad and forceful tool that has never before been used - Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution - which would allow him to take direct control of Catalonia.

He said he could resort to such a step if Puigdemont did not clearly back down from a threat to declare independence.

But on Thursday, Puigdemont sent a defiant letter to Rajoy, blaming him for escalating the conflict by refusing to meet and negotiate.

"If the government continues to prevent dialogue and maintains the repression," he wrote, "the Parliament of Catalonia could go ahead, if it deems it opportune, and vote the formal declaration of independence."

Officials in Madrid have repeatedly warned in recent days that Rajoy would consider anything short of a clear withdrawal of the declaration of independence to be unacceptable blackmail, after what he deemed an unsatisfactory response from Puigdemont on Monday.

Article 155 would give Madrid the authority to suspend Puigdemont and other Catalan lawmakers, and to take charge of the region's autonomous administration, including the Catalan broadcaster and autonomous police force, although Rajoy has not publicly committed to an emergency intervention.

It is unclear what Rajoy will propose to his Cabinet on Saturday, but he may try to gradually raise pressure on the fragile coalition of Catalan separatists, rather than risk a forceful intervention that could backfire and galvanise the independence movement.

Jose Luis Abalos, an official from the main opposition Socialist party, indicated at a news conference Thursday that the party would support Rajoy - as long as the prime minister made a limited and short usage of Article 155, and also somehow kept "self-government" in Catalonia.

Using constitutional powers, Rajoy could appoint a caretaker administration in Catalonia. Puigdemont, on the other hand, could face sedition charges and ultimately a long prison sentence for presenting a unilateral declaration of independence that violates Spain's Constitution.

Politicians in Madrid have recently demanded that Catalonia hold regional elections as soon as possible, but Puigdemont made no mention of such a vote in his letter Thursday.