A bride and groom walk in front of the ‘Generalitat’ palace (Catalan government headquarters) in Barcelona on October 30, 2017. Spain enters uncharted and potentially perilous territory today as Madrid moves to take over the running of Catalonia in response to the rebellious region’s parliament unilaterally declaring independence. Lluis Gene/AFP.
11:11am: Spanish daily El Confidencial reports that Catalonia’s pro-independence parties are divided on whether to contest the December 21 regional elections called by Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy as part of the Article 155 overhaul of Catalonia.
The Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT) is reportedly going to, according to El Confidencial’s sources. Puigdemont’s ERC party however remains divided: The key dilemma it faces is how to contest a regional election in a territory where it has already declared independence. Oriol Junqueras, president of the party, is apparently “tempted,” according to El Confidencial.
But party secretary Marta Rovira, along with many of the party’s MPs and officials, believe contesting the elections could automatically undermine the independence declaration and their goal of an independent republic, claims the daily.
10:50am: Former Catalan government official Josep Rull confirmed on twitter that he has left his office, although he added that he will “continue with with the planned agenda.” He had earlier tweeted a picture of himself at work at his desk, in defiance of Article 155. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told Catalan officials who have been removed from their job that they would be arrested and charged if they returned to posts with the intention of working, reports El Mundo.
10:12am: Some Catalan officials however ignored the central government directions and returned to work as if nothing had happened. Former Catalan Minister for Territory and Sustainability Josep Rull i Andreu tweeted a photo of himself at his desk, writing that he is “exercising his responsibilities as assigned by the Catalan people.”
View image on Twitter
The daily reports that regional police have gone to Rull’s office to physically remove him from his post, adds El Mundo. El Pais reports that Rull went to his office to tweet the photo and left of his accord shortly after, accompanied by police.
Josep Lluís Trapero Álvarez, former head of Catalonia’s regional police, the Mossos D’Esquadra, has been replaced by his deputy Ferran Lopez, according to Spanish dailies.
Meanwhile, former Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, is said to be inside Catalonia’s Parliament as the world’s media await outside.
A small group of people has gathered calling for peace outside Radio Catalunya, that was attacked by a far-right group on the weekend, tweeted one of the radio’s producers.
