MANY Spaniards have long hoped that an all-out confrontation between the government and the pro-independence leaders of Catalonia could be avoided. But this week time all but ran out.
On October 21st Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister, asked the Senate to grant him the constitutional power to dismiss the Catalan regional government, impose direct rule and call a fresh regional election within six months. With Catalan leaders pledging resistance, it is unclear whether this heralds the start of a solution or a worsening of Spain’s constitutional crisis.
As The Economist went to press, Carles Puigdemont, the president of the Generalitat, as Catalonia’s devolved government is known, was due to address his parliament. Many in his coalition, which holds a bare majority of seats, want him to declare independence. Since no European government will recognise this, it would be purely symbolic. Over the...Continue reading
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