Catalonia will have autonomy suspended by Spain

[lastupdated]

The government in Spain is to begin suspending Catalonia's autonomy this weekend after the region's leader threatened to declare independence.

Ministers are expected to meet on Saturday to activate Article 155 of the constitution, which will lead to Madrid taking over.

Catalonia's parliament had earlier said that the region's assembly would vote on independence – which was overwhelmingly backed in a referendum on 1 October – if the Spanish government "continues repression".

A government statement said: "The Spanish government will continue with the procedures outlined in Article 155 of the Constitution to restore legality in Catalonia's self-government.

"It denounces the attitude maintained by those in charge of the Generalitat [Catalan government] to seek, deliberately and systematically, institutional confrontation despite the serious damage that is being caused to the coexistence and the economic structure of Catalonia.

"No-one doubts that the Spanish government will do all it can to restore the constitutional order."

There are concerns that an escalation of the political row will lead to further unrest.

This will be the first time Article 155, a part of Spain's post-General Franco constitution, has been used.

It allows Madrid direct rule across autonomous areas in a crisis.

Article 155 of Spain's 1978 constitution, which cemented democratic rule after the death of dictator General Franco three years earlier, allows Madrid to impose direct rule in a crisis but it has never been invoked.

[caption id="attachment_6258" align="aligncenter" width="500"] ©David Ramos/Getty Images[/caption] WIC News understands that Saturday will see Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's administration will decide on a list of powers to bring under Madrid control.

Measures could see Spain's government calling a snap election or taking over Catalonia's police force.