Tag: Mariano Rajoy

• Saturday, October 21st 2017 - 18:32 UTC

  Rajoy asks Senate to remove Catalonia leadership and call regional elections

  

  The Spanish government moved decisively Saturday to use a previously untapped constitutional power so it can take control of Catalonia and derail the independence movement led by separatist politicians in the prosperous industrial region.

• Saturday, October 21st 2017 - 08:09 UTC

  King insists Catalonia “is and will remain” in Spain. Rajoy planning a general election next January

  

  In his second intervention in the secession crisis, Spain's King Felipe VI has said Catalonia “is and will remain” an essential part of the country. He told an awards ceremony in the northern city of Oviedo that the Catalan government was causing a rift and Spain would solve the problem through democratic institutions.

• Friday, October 20th 2017 - 07:49 UTC

  Spanish special cabinet meeting to take over powers of Catalonia

  

  Spain is to hold a special Cabinet meeting at the weekend to activate measures to take control of Catalonia’s semi-autonomous powers after the region’s leader said he would formally declare independence if no talks were offered.

• Tuesday, October 17th 2017 - 11:41 UTC

  Madrid tells Catalonia's leader he has until Thursday to comply with Spanish law

  

  Spain’s deputy prime minister has said that Catalonia’s leader did not give an adequate response in his letter about the region’s independence and has until Thursday to comply with the country’s laws. Carles Puigdemont’s letter, issued two hours before a Monday deadline, did not clarify whether he in fact declared Catalonia’s independence from Spain. He called for talks with Spain’s government.

• Saturday, October 14th 2017 - 08:30 UTC

  Catalonia's leader under mounting pressure from separatist allies and Madrid

  

  Catalonia’s leader faced mounting pressure on Friday from all sides, with hardliners in the separatist movement demanding he declare independence from Spain once and for all. Spain’s government and the European Union, on the other hand, want him to abandon the secession plans altogether.

• Thursday, October 12th 2017 - 11:39 UTC

  Five days countdown for Catalonia as Spain readies an impressive national unity day celebration

  

  Spain is preparing to celebrate its National Day, 12th October, amid a continuing political crisis sparked by Catalonia's disputed independence referendum. The public display of unity comes a day after PM Mariano Rajoy told parliament the country was facing the most serious threat to its 40-year-old democracy.

• Tuesday, October 10th 2017 - 07:08 UTC

  Support for Catalonia president independence declaration rapidly weakening

  

  Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is facing growing pressure to drop plans to break from Spain ahead of a key address to the regional parliament. There has been speculation that he could announce a unilateral declaration of independence following a disputed referendum. France and Germany have both expressed support for a united Spain.

• Wednesday, October 4th 2017 - 07:02 UTC

  Catalonia expected to declare independence in matter of days; King says situation is extremely serious and calls for unity

  

  Catalonia will declare independence from Spain in a matter of days, the leader of the autonomous region has told the BBC. In his first interview since Sunday's referendum, Carles Puigdemont said his government would “act at the end of this week or the beginning of next”.

• Monday, October 2nd 2017 - 09:23 UTC

  Catalonia “closer to statehood”; Rajoy calls Spanish political parties to discuss the situation

  

  Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said on Sunday that the Spanish region has won the right to statehood following a contentious referendum that was marred by violence. He said the door had been opened to a unilateral declaration of independence. Catalan officials later said 90% of those who voted backed independence in Sunday's vote. The turnout was 42.3%.

• Monday, September 25th 2017 - 06:36 UTC

  Scottish lawmakers ask Madrid to allow Catalonia to decide its future democratically

  

  A cross-party group of Scottish politicians has asked the Spanish government to allow people in Catalonia to decide their future democratically. The move comes amid rising tensions in Spain, after the devolved Catalan administration decided to call an independence referendum next Sunday, which Madrid has described the move as illegal.