SPAIN: Madrid moves towards direct rule over Catalonia

Spain moved closer on Monday to imposing central rule over Catalonia to thwart its push for independence after Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont missed an initial deadline to make his intentions clear. He now has until Thursday to back down. The Spanish High Court, meanwhile, banned the Catalan police chief from leaving the country while he […]

Spain moved closer on Monday to imposing central rule over Catalonia to thwart its push for independence after Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont missed an initial deadline to make his intentions clear.

He now has until Thursday to back down. The Spanish High Court, meanwhile, banned the Catalan police chief from leaving the country while he is investigated on suspicion of sedition.

In a confrontation viewed with mounting unease in European capitals and financial markets, Puigdemont failed on Monday to respond to Madrid’s ultimatum to clarify if he was declaring unilateral independence.

In a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Puigdemont did not directly answer on the independence issue, instead making a “sincere and honest” offer for dialogue between the two men over the next two months. In reply, Rajoy said Puigdemont’s stance had brought Madrid closer to triggering Article 155 of the constitution, under which it can impose direct rule on any of the country’s 17 autonomous communities if they break the law.