ARCHIVED - Catalunya accuses Spain of attempted coup after Rajoy outlines plans for temporary direct rule

Members of the regional cabinet in Catalunya could be removed from office by this Friday

The conflict between the Spanish government and the separatist regional government in Catalunya continued to occupy the majority of the attention of the Spanish and European press over the weekend, the main focus being on the revelation by President Mariano Rajoy on Saturday of more details concerning how he and his colleagues intend to implement Article 155 of the Constitution, which enables them to impose direct rule on any region where the government “seriously prejudices the general interests of Spain”.

The key elements of the press conference at which Sr Rajoy explained the proposals which he will present for approval to the Senate this coming Friday are the removal of Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and his ministers in the regional government from their posts, the taking on of their responsibilities by the appropriate Ministers and Departments of the central government in Madrid and the calling of a regional election within six months. On the other hand, at the same time it has been decided that the regional parliament of Catalunya will remain operative, although the national executive will have the power to veto resolutions which contravene the Constitution or Spanish law.

Assuming that the Senate approves the measures outlined, it will be possible to implement them on Friday afternoon, meaning that for the first time since democracy was restored in Spain after the death of General Franco the central government will be in a position to partially rescind the autonomy granted to one of the 17 regions.

While announcing these measures, Mariano Rajoy was careful to clarify that his intention is not to completely do away with the degree of autonomy enjoyed by Catalunya, but to remove from positions of responsibility the individuals who have placed the Catalan government outside the boundaries of Spanish law, and that the ultimate aim is to re-establish peaceful co-existence in the region as soon as possible. This mentality was reiterated during the weekend in English by Alfonso Dastis, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, during an interview with the BBC.

Saturday’s press conference followed the second public pronouncements by King Felipe VI on the subject of Catalunya since the disputed referendum on 1^st October, during which he stated that “Spain must confront an unacceptable attempt at secession”. Speaking at the ceremony for the Princesa de Asturias awards in Oviedo, he added that “Catalunya is and will be an essential part of Spain”.

In response to the announcement of these measures on Saturday, Carles Puigdemont has called a full session of the Catalan parliament in order to debate how to react to the “attempt to liquidate” the regional government. He referred to the activation of Article 155 as a “coup d’état” perpetrated by Spain, and reiterated his call for the release of Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart, the separatist activists accused of orchestrating mob violence against the Guardia Civil on 20^th September.

The Guardia Urbana of Barcelona estimate that as many as 450,000 people took part in a demonstration to demand their release on Saturday, as well to protest against the implementation of Article 155.

Switching from the Catalan language to Castilian Spanish, and also expressing himself at times in English, Sr Puigdemont lamented “the worst attack on the institutions and people of Catalunya since the decrees of the dictator Francisco Franco”, and although it is not clear what the outcome might be of the parliamentary debate in Barcelona he has discounted the calling of a regional parliament by his executive. He remains under pressure from many to declare independence without any ambiguity, lifting the “temporary suspension” he placed on the process of separation from Spain just seconds after accepting the “mandate” of the Catalan people to guide them towards an independent republic.

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