Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday gave the Catalan
government eight days to drop an independence bid, failing which he
would suspend the Catalonia’s political autonomy and rule the region
directly.
Read more: Spain gives Catalan leader eight days to drop independence
His move could deepen the confrontation between
Madrid and the northeastern region but also signals a way out of Spain’s
biggest political crisis since a failed military coup in 1981.
Rajoy
would probably call a snap regional election after activating Article
155 of the constitution that would allow him to sack the Catalan
regional government.
“The cabinet has agreed this morning to formally
request the Catalan government to confirm whether it has declared the
independence of Catalonia, regardless of the deliberate confusion
created over its implementation,” Rajoy said in a televised address
after a cabinet meeting called to consider the government’s response.
He
later told Spain’s parliament the Catalan government had until Monday,
Oct. 16 at 0800 GMT to answer. If Puigdemont was to confirm he did
declare independence, he would be given an additional three days to
rectify it, until Thursday, Oct. 19 at 0800 GMT. Failing this, Article
155 would be triggered.
It is not yet clear if the Catalan government will answer the requirement but it now faces a conundrum, analysts say.
