Catalans Declare Independence from Spain

Update, 09:00 - Spain dismissed Catalonia's president and Cabinet and dissolved its Parliament on Friday hours after lawmakers in the autonomous region defied Madrid and voted overwhelmingly to declare independence.

CNN reports that Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called new elections and fired the Catalan police chief, as part of an unprecedented package of measures to seize control of the renegade administration in Barcelona.

He said said the moves were needed to restore legality, after a political and constitutional crisis that has gripped the country for months.

27.10.2017 - The Catalan Parliament has declared independance from Spain. The Catalan regional Parliament voted to declare independence from Spain, while the Spanish parliament has approved direct rule over the region. The situation is still unfolding.

Catalan MPs backed the motion 70-10 in a ballot boycotted by the opposition.

Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, earlier told senators direct rule was needed to return "law, democracy and stability" to Catalonia.

The crisis began when Catalans backed independence in a disputed vote earlier this month.

The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part in the referendum, 90% were in favour of independence. But Spain's Constitutional Court had ruled the vote illegal.

Updates to follow.

Source: BBC

By Tamzin Whitewood