Spain takes direct control of Catalonia, fires Carles Puigdemont

Barcelona, Oct 28: In the the worst political crisis in Spain in nearly four decades, Spain has taken direct control of Catalonia and sacked the region's defiant separatist government by publishing special measures overnight in an official gazette online.

The move early on Saturday came after separatist Catalan lawmakers passed a declaration of independence on Friday.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who now replaces Catalan President Carles Puigdemont as the top decision-maker in the northeastern region, has dissolved the regional parliament and called a new regional election on December 21.

Puigdemont and the 12 members of the Catalan Cabinet will no longer be paid and could be charged with usurping others' functions if they refuse to obey. There was no immediate response from the top Catalan officials. Only the director of the Catalan regional police, who was also fired, issued a statement saying he would comply.

Catalonia's regional parliament declared independence from Spain on Friday in a disputed vote.

The Catalan resolution, which Madrid says the region cannot legally execute, was passed by 70 votes to 10. There were two abstentions, but dozens of opposition MPS walked out before the secret ballot in the 135-seat assembly, where 68 votes constitute a majority.

PTI