Spain plans to hold regional elections in Catalonia

The Spanish government has agreed with the opposition to hold elections in Catalonia in January, aimed at stripping the region of its autonomy.

People waving Catalan flags protest against Spain's arrest of two separatist leaders in Barcelona on October 17. Photo: Reuters.

The Spanish government has agreed with the opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) to hold regional elections in Catalonia in January 2018,Reutersquoted PSOE politician Carmen Calvo said today in a television interview.

This is one of the measures aimed at helping Madrid impose direct authority over the autonomous region of Catalonia.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will chair a special cabinet session on October 21 to begin the process of stripping Catalonia of its autonomy.

The move came after Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont refused to stop his campaign to separate Catalonia from Spain.

Mr. Puigdemont signed a declaration of separation from Spain on October 10 during the Catalan parliament session, based on the results of the October 1 referendum in which 90% of the 2.26 million Catalans who voted supported independence, but postponed its implementation.

Prime Minister Rajoy then asked Puigdemont to clarify whether they had declared independence within five days but did not receive a satisfactory answer. Madrid set a new deadline of 8am GMT on 19 October.

In a letter to the government after the deadline, Puigdemont said he would push for a unilateral declaration of independence if "the central government insists on blocking dialogue and continues its repression". Spain announced yesterday that it would invoke Article 155 of the constitution, allowing it to suspend Catalonia's autonomy.

According to VNE