Spain imposes direct rule after Catalonia votes to declare independence

[sl8]

Source: The Guardian

Spain’s senate has granted the country’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, unprecedented powers to impose direct rule on Catalonia minutes after the region’s parliament voted to establish an independent republic on Friday afternoon.

Rajoy, who has vowed to stop the region becoming independent, is now expected to call a cabinet meeting to begin assuming control of the region and sacking its president, Carles Puigdemont.

...

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/27/spanish-pm-mariano-rajoy-asks-senate-powers-dismiss-catalonia-president?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

[Calista241]

1. This is a disaster for both Spain and Europe.

[jberryhill]

2. Unsurprising

[yallerdawg]

3. Although enjoying a great deal of autonomy...

the more prosperous and economically advantaged Catalans resent having to be "the maker" in the "taker" state of Spain.

This is the equivalent of California wanting to ditch the USA and all those southern "taker" states.

On the one hand, we are all entitled to self-determination.

On the other hand, is a federation of states just an economic relationship?

Democracy - ain't it grand!

[sandensea]

4. Rajoy brought this on himself

All the best to Catalonia.

[OnlinePoker]

5. If Madrid sends in troops, do the Catalans fight?

If they do, would the Basques then rise up in the north for their own independence?

[The Mouth]

6. I would hope we would be one of the first to recognize them

[BigmanPigman]

8. I just saw on MSNBC that the US already sent word to

Spain that our government's position is that we will support and recognize a unified Spain and not Catalonia.

[Pugster]

7. Good. Catalonia would become a Putin satellite

Putin would be launching fake news operations from its his new base.