A large chunk of Catalonia&#39;s deposed government was behind bars early Friday after a Spanish judge prompted fresh protests by ordering their detention pending probes into their role in the region&#39;s independence drive.

Carles Puigdemont, dismissed last week as Catalan president by the Spanish government and who has since been holed up in Belgium, was issued an EU arrest warrant after failing to show at the court hearing in Madrid, his Belgian lawyer said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spanish-prosecutors-seek-eu-arrest-warrant-for-puigdemont-23400" target="_blank">Also read: Spanish prosecutors seek EU arrest warrant for Puigdemont</a>

In another day of high drama in Spain&#39;s biggest crisis in decades, judge Carmen Lamela had Puigdemont&#39;s deputy and seven other deposed regional ministers detained pending a potential trial for alleged sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds.

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With television channels showing images of police vans with flashing blue lights said to be taking the former ministers to different prisons, Catalans took to the streets in anger and disbelief.

There were protests in front of the Catalan parliament in Barcelona, the regional capital, with police estimating a crowd of 20,000. Others gathered outside town halls across the region including 8,000 people in both Girona and Tarragona.

Those in Barcelona held up their mobile phones like candles and waved separatist flags -- red and yellow stripes with a white star -- also holding black-and-yellow &quot;libertad&quot; (&quot;freedom&quot;) signs.

The crowds, who included elderly couples and young parents carrying toddlers, chanted &quot;Free political prisoners&quot; and &quot;This isn&#39;t justice but dictatorship.&quot;

&quot;It makes you angry even when you don&#39;t vote for independence because every time a disproportionate measure is taken, it only fuels independence,&quot; said retired teacher Dolores, 66.

Puigdemont called in a statement broadcast on Catalan TV from an undisclosed location for the release of the ministers and said that the situation &quot;is no longer an internal Spanish affair&quot;.

&quot;The international community, and especially the European community, must realise the danger these attitudes represent,&quot; he said.

Flight risk 
A total of 20 people including Puigdemont, Junqueras and the speaker of the Catalan regional parliament had been summoned for questioning on Thursday.

A hearing of the speaker of Catalan&#39;s parliament and five others at the Supreme Court was adjourned until November 9 after their lawyers requested more time to prepare their defence.

Puigdemont and four others with him in Belgium failed to show.

Puigdemont&#39;s Belgian lawyer Paul Bekaert told Flemish television channel VRT that his client told him that the warrant &quot;has been issued against the president and four other ministers who are in Belgium.&quot;

He expected the Spanish judiciary will now send an extradition request to Belgian federal prosecutors but said Puigdemont would appeal if a Belgian judge approves the request.

In respect to his no-show at the hearing, Bekaert said his client &quot;did not find a climate conducive to testifying and it would be better to put a bit of distance between it.&quot;

In her ruling, judge Lamela said she had ordered preventive detention for those who remained because of a possible flight risk.

&quot;Let&#39;s remember that some of the defendants have already gone to other countries, dodging possible penal responsibilities,&quot; she wrote.

A ninth former minister, who resigned last Friday, was also remanded in custody but will be set free if he pays bail of 50,000 euros ($58,000).

Independence drive 
Catalan demands for independence date back centuries but have surged in recent years, in part due to a difficult economic situation.

Puigdemont&#39;s government organised an independence referendum on October 1 despite a court ban.

Spanish police tried and failed to stop it, in some cases firing rubber bullets at people defending polling stations.

A declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament followed last Friday.

But that same day, Rajoy dismissed the regional government, imposing direct rule on Catalonia and called regional elections for December 21.

&#39;Failed state&#39; 
Marta Rovira, a lawyer and Catalan separatist lawmaker, briefly broke down in tears as she spoke to reporters in Madrid after the announcement of the detentions.

&quot;The Spanish state is a failed state, a state that has failed democratically,&quot; she said. &quot;I&#39;m convinced we won&#39;t surrender, we won&#39;t, we will fight until the end.&quot;

But Catalans, fiercely proud of their language and culture, remain deeply divided about independence, polls indicate.

The European Union has swung firmly behind Rajoy. Spain&#39;s central bank warned Thursday of a possible recession in Catalonia if the crisis continues.

In addition, there are signs of growing divisions in the separatist camp, with many unhappy with Puigdemont, particularly now he is hundreds of miles away from the region he hopes to lead to independence.

The ministers have been detained pending a potential trial for alleged sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds

A large chunk of Catalonia's deposed government was behind bars early Friday after a Spanish judge prompted fresh protests by ordering their detention pending probes into their role in the region's independence drive. Carles Puigdemont, dismissed last week as Catalan president by the Spanish government and who has since been holed up in Belgium, was issued an EU arrest warrant after failing to show at the court hearing in Madrid, his Belgian lawyer said. Also read: Spanish prosecutors seek EU arrest warrant for Puigdemont In another day of high drama in Spain's biggest crisis in decades, judge Carmen Lamela had Puigdemont's deputy and seven other deposed regional ministers detained pending a potential trial for alleged sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds. Carles Puigdemont, dismissed last week as Catalan president by the Spanish government and who has since been holed up in Belgium, was issued an EU arrest warrant after failing to show at the court hearing in Madrid, his Belgian lawyer said × With television channels showing images of police vans with flashing blue lights said to be taking the former ministers to different prisons, Catalans took to the streets in anger and disbelief. There were protests in front of the Catalan parliament in Barcelona, the regional capital, with police estimating a crowd of 20,000. Others gathered outside town halls across the region including 8,000 people in both Girona and Tarragona. Those in Barcelona held up their mobile phones like candles and waved separatist flags -- red and yellow stripes with a white star -- also holding black-and-yellow "libertad" ("freedom") signs. The crowds, who included elderly couples and young parents carrying toddlers, chanted "Free political prisoners" and "This isn't justice but dictatorship." "It makes you angry even when you don't vote for independence because every time a disproportionate measure is taken, it only fuels independence," said retired teacher Dolores, 66. Puigdemont called in a statement broadcast on Catalan TV from an undisclosed location for the release of the ministers and said that the situation "is no longer an internal Spanish affair". "The international community, and especially the European community, must realise the danger these attitudes represent," he said. Flight risk A total of 20 people including Puigdemont, Junqueras and the speaker of the Catalan regional parliament had been summoned for questioning on Thursday. A hearing of the speaker of Catalan's parliament and five others at the Supreme Court was adjourned until November 9 after their lawyers requested more time to prepare their defence. Puigdemont and four others with him in Belgium failed to show. Puigdemont's Belgian lawyer Paul Bekaert told Flemish television channel VRT that his client told him that the warrant "has been issued against the president and four other ministers who are in Belgium." He expected the Spanish judiciary will now send an extradition request to Belgian federal prosecutors but said Puigdemont would appeal if a Belgian judge approves the request. In respect to his no-show at the hearing, Bekaert said his client "did not find a climate conducive to testifying and it would be better to put a bit of distance between it." In her ruling, judge Lamela said she had ordered preventive detention for those who remained because of a possible flight risk. "Let's remember that some of the defendants have already gone to other countries, dodging possible penal responsibilities," she wrote. A ninth former minister, who resigned last Friday, was also remanded in custody but will be set free if he pays bail of 50,000 euros ($58,000). Independence drive Catalan demands for independence date back centuries but have surged in recent years, in part due to a difficult economic situation. Puigdemont's government organised an independence referendum on October 1 despite a court ban. Spanish police tried and failed to stop it, in some cases firing rubber bullets at people defending polling stations. A declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament followed last Friday. But that same day, Rajoy dismissed the regional government, imposing direct rule on Catalonia and called regional elections for December 21. 'Failed state' Marta Rovira, a lawyer and Catalan separatist lawmaker, briefly broke down in tears as she spoke to reporters in Madrid after the announcement of the detentions. "The Spanish state is a failed state, a state that has failed democratically," she said. "I'm convinced we won't surrender, we won't, we will fight until the end." But Catalans, fiercely proud of their language and culture, remain deeply divided about independence, polls indicate. The European Union has swung firmly behind Rajoy. Spain's central bank warned Thursday of a possible recession in Catalonia if the crisis continues. In addition, there are signs of growing divisions in the separatist camp, with many unhappy with Puigdemont, particularly now he is hundreds of miles away from the region he hopes to lead to independence.

Spanish judge jails 8 ex-Catalan ministers, fresh protests erupt

Spanish prosecutors requested a European arrest warrant for Catalonia&#39;s axed leader Carles Puigdemont on Thursday after he failed to show up to be grilled by a judge over his role in the region&#39;s tumultuous quest for independence.

In another day of drama in Spain&#39;s worst political crisis in decades, prosecutors in Madrid asked a judge to approve the warrant for Puigdemont and four of his former ministers, all thought to be in Belgium, a judicial source said.

The source, who declined to be named, said Puigdemont had &#39;publicly announced his intention not to appear,&#39;&nbsp;adding that he and two other former ministers asked to appear via videoconference &#39;without giving any information as to where they are.&#39;

Prosecutors also asked for the preventive detention of eight of Puigdemont&#39;s ministers who did adhere with a legal summons to face accusations of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds.

A total of 19 people including Puigdemont, his deputy Oriol Junqueras and the speaker of the Catalan regional parliament had been summoned to be questioned on Thursday.

A hearing of the speaker and five others at the Supreme Court was adjourned until November 9 after their lawyers requested more time to prepare their defence.

But a judge at the National Court pressed ahead with separate proceedings concerning Puigdemont and his fellow former ministers. The judge, Carmen Lamela, was due to make a ruling later on Thursday.

Under Spanish law, rebellion carries a jail sentence of up to 30 years and sedition up to 15 years.

As they arrived at court on Thursday, the Catalan leaders, who were deposed by Madrid on Friday after the regional parliament declared independence, were greeted by cheering supporters but booed by opponents brandishing red-and-yellow Spanish flags.

&#39;You are not alone&#39;,&nbsp;a group of around 30 people, mostly Catalan lawmakers, chanted as the former regional ministers ran the gauntlet of a mass of photographers and TV crews.

&quot;The conflict between Catalonia and the Spanish state won&#39;t be resolved through courts and violence,&quot; said former Catalan president Artur Mas, in Madrid to show his support.&quot;The more fuel and wood you add to the fire, the bigger it becomes.&quot;

Catalan demands for independence date back centuries but have surged in recent years, in part due to a difficult economic situation that has left many Catalans fuming about their taxes going to Madrid.

Puigdemont&#39;s government organised an independence referendum on October 1 despite a court ban.

Spanish police tried and failed to stop it, in some cases firing rubber bullets at people defending polling stations.

A declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament followed last Friday, greeted by celebrations on the streets of Barcelona.

But that same day, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy&#39;s government dismissed the regional government and imposed direct rule on the semi-autonomous northeastern region. He also called fresh Catalan elections for December 21.

Back in Barcelona on Thursday, several hundred demonstrators gathered in front of the regional assembly chanting &#39;freedom&#39;&nbsp;and &#39;Puigdemont is our president&#39;.

&quot;Puigdemont&nbsp;hasn&#39;t fled, it is a political strategy forcing the EU to take a stand,&quot; said protestor Jorde Segu, 68, a retiree. &quot;He&#39;s a hero,&quot; added secretary Lidia Amoraga, 62.

Puigdemont, 54, explained in a statement from Belgium that some members of his government would go to the National Court &quot;to denounce the drive of Spanish justice to pursue political ideas&quot;.

But others, including himself, &quot;will stay in Brussels to decry this political process to the international community&quot;.&nbsp;

It was not clear how coordinated the actions were, however.

Javier Melero, the lawyer of two of the parliamentary members under investigation, said Puigdemont should have turned up.

Catalans, fiercely proud of their language and culture, remain deeply divided about independence, polls indicate.

The European Union, several members of which have disgruntled regions of their own, has swung firmly behind Rajoy.

In addition, there are signs of growing divisions in the separatist camp, with many unhappy with Puigdemont, particularly now he is hundreds of miles away.

Adding to concerns, Spain&#39;s central bank also warned Thursday that the region risks suffering an economic recession if the strife continues, slowing down Spain&#39;s growth.&nbsp;

A total of 19 people including Puigdemont, his deputy Oriol Junqueras and the speaker of the Catalan regional parliament had been summoned to be questioned on Thursday.

Spanish prosecutors requested a European arrest warrant for Catalonia's axed leader Carles Puigdemont on Thursday after he failed to show up to be grilled by a judge over his role in the region's tumultuous quest for independence. In another day of drama in Spain's worst political crisis in decades, prosecutors in Madrid asked a judge to approve the warrant for Puigdemont and four of his former ministers, all thought to be in Belgium, a judicial source said. The source, who declined to be named, said Puigdemont had 'publicly announced his intention not to appear,' adding that he and two other former ministers asked to appear via videoconference 'without giving any information as to where they are.' Prosecutors also asked for the preventive detention of eight of Puigdemont's ministers who did adhere with a legal summons to face accusations of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds. A total of 19 people including Puigdemont, his deputy Oriol Junqueras and the speaker of the Catalan regional parliament had been summoned to be questioned on Thursday. A hearing of the speaker and five others at the Supreme Court was adjourned until November 9 after their lawyers requested more time to prepare their defence. But a judge at the National Court pressed ahead with separate proceedings concerning Puigdemont and his fellow former ministers. The judge, Carmen Lamela, was due to make a ruling later on Thursday. Under Spanish law, rebellion carries a jail sentence of up to 30 years and sedition up to 15 years. As they arrived at court on Thursday, the Catalan leaders, who were deposed by Madrid on Friday after the regional parliament declared independence, were greeted by cheering supporters but booed by opponents brandishing red-and-yellow Spanish flags. 'You are not alone', a group of around 30 people, mostly Catalan lawmakers, chanted as the former regional ministers ran the gauntlet of a mass of photographers and TV crews. "The conflict between Catalonia and the Spanish state won't be resolved through courts and violence," said former Catalan president Artur Mas, in Madrid to show his support."The more fuel and wood you add to the fire, the bigger it becomes." Catalan demands for independence date back centuries but have surged in recent years, in part due to a difficult economic situation that has left many Catalans fuming about their taxes going to Madrid. Puigdemont's government organised an independence referendum on October 1 despite a court ban. Spanish police tried and failed to stop it, in some cases firing rubber bullets at people defending polling stations. A declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament followed last Friday, greeted by celebrations on the streets of Barcelona. But that same day, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government dismissed the regional government and imposed direct rule on the semi-autonomous northeastern region. He also called fresh Catalan elections for December 21. Back in Barcelona on Thursday, several hundred demonstrators gathered in front of the regional assembly chanting 'freedom' and 'Puigdemont is our president'. "Puigdemont hasn't fled, it is a political strategy forcing the EU to take a stand," said protestor Jorde Segu, 68, a retiree. "He's a hero," added secretary Lidia Amoraga, 62. Puigdemont, 54, explained in a statement from Belgium that some members of his government would go to the National Court "to denounce the drive of Spanish justice to pursue political ideas". But others, including himself, "will stay in Brussels to decry this political process to the international community". It was not clear how coordinated the actions were, however. Javier Melero, the lawyer of two of the parliamentary members under investigation, said Puigdemont should have turned up. Catalans, fiercely proud of their language and culture, remain deeply divided about independence, polls indicate. The European Union, several members of which have disgruntled regions of their own, has swung firmly behind Rajoy. In addition, there are signs of growing divisions in the separatist camp, with many unhappy with Puigdemont, particularly now he is hundreds of miles away. Adding to concerns, Spain's central bank also warned Thursday that the region risks suffering an economic recession if the strife continues, slowing down Spain's growth.

Spanish prosecutors seek EU arrest warrant for Puigdemont

Catalonian president Carles Puigdemont is set to call a snap regional election on Dec. 20, local media said on Thursday, a move that could help break a one-month deadlock between the Madrid government and<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/catalonia-stops-short-of-formal-independence-declaration-to-allow-talks-21251"> Catalan separatists seeking independence from Spain</a>.

Barcelona-based La Vanguardia said Puigdemont had taken the decision in a bid to convince the government of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spain-to-suspend-catalonias-government-call-elections-22701">Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy </a>not to enforce the direct rule in the region.

Puigdemont will deliver an address at 1.30 p.m (1130 GMT), his office said.

Calling an election could either strengthen Puigdemont&#39;s mandate if pro-independence parties won, or allow him a graceful exit if they did not.

But it could also heighten divisions within the secessionist camp and bring the current campaign to a halt.

Cracks appeared late on Wednesday in the secessionist coalition as members backed a vote while others said there was no alternative to independence.

An opinion poll published by the El Periodico newspaper on Sunday showed a snap election would probably have results similar to the last ballot, in 2015, when a coalition of pro-independence parties formed a minority government.

Barcelona-based La Vanguardia said Puigdemont had taken the decision in a bid to convince the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy not to enforce the direct rule in the region

Catalonian president Carles Puigdemont is set to call a snap regional election on Dec. 20, local media said on Thursday, a move that could help break a one-month deadlock between the Madrid government and Catalan separatists seeking independence from Spain. Barcelona-based La Vanguardia said Puigdemont had taken the decision in a bid to convince the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy not to enforce the direct rule in the region. Puigdemont will deliver an address at 1.30 p.m (1130 GMT), his office said. Calling an election could either strengthen Puigdemont's mandate if pro-independence parties won, or allow him a graceful exit if they did not. But it could also heighten divisions within the secessionist camp and bring the current campaign to a halt. Cracks appeared late on Wednesday in the secessionist coalition as members backed a vote while others said there was no alternative to independence. An opinion poll published by the El Periodico newspaper on Sunday showed a snap election would probably have results similar to the last ballot, in 2015, when a coalition of pro-independence parties formed a minority government.

Catalan head Puigdemont set to call regional election: Media

Catalan separatists Monday threatened &quot;mass civil disobedience&quot; against the Spanish government if it fulfills its vow to depose the region`s secessionist leader to stifle his drive for independence.

Firefighters, teachers, and students weighed into the dispute, warning of strikes and protests, at the start of a crucial week in Spain`s deepest political crisis in decades.

Madrid has said it will suspend the powers of the semi-autonomous region, where separatist leaders held a banned independence referendum on October 1.

Catalonia`s separatist parties announced they would hold a full session on Thursday to decide their response.

That could be an opportunity for the region to follow through on threats to declare unilateral independence from Spain, a prospect that has raised fears of unrest.

The Senate is set to suspend the territory`s limited self-rule in a meeting expected Friday.

Spain`s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Catalan President Carles Puigdemont will be out of a job as soon as this weekend.

&quot;He will no longer be able to sign anything, he will no longer be able to take decisions, he will no longer receive a salary,&quot; Saenz de Santamaria told radio Onda Cero.The far-left Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), which backs Puigdemont`s coalition, said Madrid`s post-referendum clampdown was the &quot;biggest assault&quot; against the Catalan people since the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

Franco -- who ruled from 1939 until 1975 -- suppressed Catalonia`s autonomy, language, and culture.

&quot;This assault will receive a response in the form of massive civil disobedience,&quot; the CUP, a key regional power broker, said in a statement.

Lluis Corominas, spokesman of the Together for Yes ruling coalition, meanwhile urged a &quot;peaceful and democratic defence of Catalan institutions&quot;.

He branded the Spanish response to the independence drive &quot;a case of unprecedented institutional violence&quot;.Catalan firefighters hinted they may offer resistance in the dispute by refusing to obey orders from national authorities. 
&quot;It depends on what they ask us to do. If there is a road that is blocked and they send us to unblock it, maybe we won`t go,&quot; said a spokesman for a firefighter association associated to the separatist movement.

Teachers called a protest march for Thursday, and students said they will go on strike from that day.

Half a million angry separatists took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday after Rajoy announced he would replace Puigdemont and his executive.

To do so, Madrid will use previously untested constitutional powers to stop Catalonia breaking away.Under Article 155 of the 1978 Spanish constitution, Madrid could take control of the Catalan police force and replace the heads of its public broadcaster.

Political analysts warn that Madrid faces a serious struggle in practical terms to impose control over the region, especially if civil servants refuse to obey orders from central authorities. 
&nbsp;

Firefighters, teachers, and students weighed into the dispute, warning of strikes and protests, at the start of a crucial week in Spain`s deepest political crisis in decades.

Catalan separatists Monday threatened "mass civil disobedience" against the Spanish government if it fulfills its vow to depose the region`s secessionist leader to stifle his drive for independence. Firefighters, teachers, and students weighed into the dispute, warning of strikes and protests, at the start of a crucial week in Spain`s deepest political crisis in decades. Madrid has said it will suspend the powers of the semi-autonomous region, where separatist leaders held a banned independence referendum on October 1. Catalonia`s separatist parties announced they would hold a full session on Thursday to decide their response. That could be an opportunity for the region to follow through on threats to declare unilateral independence from Spain, a prospect that has raised fears of unrest. The Senate is set to suspend the territory`s limited self-rule in a meeting expected Friday. Spain`s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Catalan President Carles Puigdemont will be out of a job as soon as this weekend. "He will no longer be able to sign anything, he will no longer be able to take decisions, he will no longer receive a salary," Saenz de Santamaria told radio Onda Cero.The far-left Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), which backs Puigdemont`s coalition, said Madrid`s post-referendum clampdown was the "biggest assault" against the Catalan people since the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Franco -- who ruled from 1939 until 1975 -- suppressed Catalonia`s autonomy, language, and culture. "This assault will receive a response in the form of massive civil disobedience," the CUP, a key regional power broker, said in a statement. Lluis Corominas, spokesman of the Together for Yes ruling coalition, meanwhile urged a "peaceful and democratic defence of Catalan institutions". He branded the Spanish response to the independence drive "a case of unprecedented institutional violence".Catalan firefighters hinted they may offer resistance in the dispute by refusing to obey orders from national authorities. "It depends on what they ask us to do. If there is a road that is blocked and they send us to unblock it, maybe we won`t go," said a spokesman for a firefighter association associated to the separatist movement. Teachers called a protest march for Thursday, and students said they will go on strike from that day. Half a million angry separatists took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday after Rajoy announced he would replace Puigdemont and his executive. To do so, Madrid will use previously untested constitutional powers to stop Catalonia breaking away.Under Article 155 of the 1978 Spanish constitution, Madrid could take control of the Catalan police force and replace the heads of its public broadcaster. Political analysts warn that Madrid faces a serious struggle in practical terms to impose control over the region, especially if civil servants refuse to obey orders from central authorities.

Catalan separatists vow disobedience as Spain standoff mounts

Spain&#39;s political showdown with Catalonia is set to reach a new level on Thursday when political leaders in Madrid and Barcelona are expected to make good on pledges made to their supporters to stick to their tough positions over the region&#39;s future.

In an unprecedented move since Spain returned to democracy in the late 1970s, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will impose direct rule in Catalonia unless the region&#39;s leader Carles Puigdemont retracts by 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) an ambiguous declaration of independence he made last week.

Puigdemont told members of his Catalan Democratic Party on Wednesday night that not only he would not back down but that he would press ahead with a more formal declaration of independence if Rajoy suspends Catalonia&#39;s political autonomy.

It is not yet clear how and when this declaration would take place and whether it would be endorsed by the regional assembly, though many pro-independence lawmakers have openly said they wanted to hold a vote in the Catalan parliament to make it more solemn.

If Rajoy invokes Article 155 of the 1978 constitution, which allows him to take control of a region if it breaks the law, it would not be fully effective until at least early next week as it needs previous parliamentary approval, offering some last minute leeway for secessionists to split unilaterally.

This prospect has raised fears of social unrest, led the euro zone&#39;s fourth-largest economy to cut its growth forecasts and rattled the euro.

Puigdemont has already defied Rajoy once this week, when he ignored a first deadline to drop the independence campaign and instead called for talks.

Both sides have traded blame for the stand-off for more than a month.

Rajoy says the Catalan government has repeatedly broken the law, including when it held a banned vote on independence on Oct. 1 and made a symbolic declaration of independence on Oct. 10, only to suspend it seconds later.

Puigdemont says a violent police crackdown on the referendum and arrests of pro-independence leaders on charges of sedition show the Spanish state has become authoritarian.

Some further uncertainty could come from the terms of Article 155, which are vague.

Madrid can in theory sack the local administration and install a new team, take control of police and finances, and call a snap election.

But some members of the Catalan government have already questioned this interpretation of the constitution, suggesting the stand-off could extend for at least several more days.

In an unprecedented move since Spain returned to democracy in the late 1970s, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will impose direct rule in Catalonia unless the region's leader Carles Puigdemont retracts by 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) an ambiguous declaration of independence he made last week.

Spain's political showdown with Catalonia is set to reach a new level on Thursday when political leaders in Madrid and Barcelona are expected to make good on pledges made to their supporters to stick to their tough positions over the region's future. In an unprecedented move since Spain returned to democracy in the late 1970s, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will impose direct rule in Catalonia unless the region's leader Carles Puigdemont retracts by 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) an ambiguous declaration of independence he made last week. Puigdemont told members of his Catalan Democratic Party on Wednesday night that not only he would not back down but that he would press ahead with a more formal declaration of independence if Rajoy suspends Catalonia's political autonomy. It is not yet clear how and when this declaration would take place and whether it would be endorsed by the regional assembly, though many pro-independence lawmakers have openly said they wanted to hold a vote in the Catalan parliament to make it more solemn. If Rajoy invokes Article 155 of the 1978 constitution, which allows him to take control of a region if it breaks the law, it would not be fully effective until at least early next week as it needs previous parliamentary approval, offering some last minute leeway for secessionists to split unilaterally. This prospect has raised fears of social unrest, led the euro zone's fourth-largest economy to cut its growth forecasts and rattled the euro. Puigdemont has already defied Rajoy once this week, when he ignored a first deadline to drop the independence campaign and instead called for talks. Both sides have traded blame for the stand-off for more than a month. Rajoy says the Catalan government has repeatedly broken the law, including when it held a banned vote on independence on Oct. 1 and made a symbolic declaration of independence on Oct. 10, only to suspend it seconds later. Puigdemont says a violent police crackdown on the referendum and arrests of pro-independence leaders on charges of sedition show the Spanish state has become authoritarian. Some further uncertainty could come from the terms of Article 155, which are vague. Madrid can in theory sack the local administration and install a new team, take control of police and finances, and call a snap election. But some members of the Catalan government have already questioned this interpretation of the constitution, suggesting the stand-off could extend for at least several more days.

Spain-Catalonia standoff set to intensify

Catalonia refused on Tuesday to bow to the Spanish government&rsquo;s demand that it renounce a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/catalonia-stops-short-of-formal-independence-declaration-to-allow-talks-21251">symbolic declaration of independence</a>, setting it on a political collision course with Madrid later this week.

Madrid has threatened to put Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of Spain&rsquo;s economy, under direct central rule if its regional government does not abandon independence by Thursday.

But Catalonia&rsquo;s government rejected Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy&rsquo;s deadline.

&quot;Giving in forms no part of this government`s scenarios,&quot; Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull said. &quot;On Thursday, we won&rsquo;t give anything different than what we gave on Monday.&quot;

Spain&rsquo;s biggest political crisis in decades worsened on Monday night when Madrid&rsquo;s High Court jailed the heads of Catalonia&#39;s two main separatist groups pending an investigation for alleged sedition.

The Catalan government accused Madrid of taking &quot;political prisoners&quot; and tens of thousands of protesters gathered along Barcelona&rsquo;s Diagonal Avenue to call for their release.

People held up lighted candles, whistled and shouted &quot;freedom&quot; and &quot;out with the occupying forces&quot;.

&quot;There should not be political prisoners in a democratic country in the 21st century. This country is not democratic. I&rsquo;m here to support democracy,&quot; said Alicia Cabreriza, a 26-year-old computer programmer from Barcelona.

The protests ended peacefully at around 2000 GMT.

Catalan leader <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/catalan-leader-under-pressure-to-drop-independence-france-germany-weigh-in-21209">Carles Puigdemont</a>, in a tweet following the detentions, said: &quot;Sadly, we have political prisoners again.&quot;

The phrase was an allusion to the military dictatorship under Francisco Franco, when Catalan culture and language were systematically suppressed. It carries an emotional resonance given fascism is still a living memory for many Spaniards.

Justice Minister Rafael Catala hit back, saying the jailing of the leaders of the separatist groups, the Catalan National Assembly and Omnium, was a judicial, not a political, decision.

&quot;We can talk of politicians in prison but not political prisoners,&quot; he said. &quot;These are not political prisoners because yesterday&rsquo;s prison ruling was due to a (suspected) crime.&quot;

The crisis has deepened divisions at the heart of Spain&rsquo;s young democracy, underlining the complex sense of nationhood in the euro zone&rsquo;s fourth largest economy.

In Madrid, unionists drape their homes in the national flag, while Barcelona apartment buildings are festooned with Catalan flags. Street protests of hundreds of thousands of people have been held on both sides of the divide, including in Catalonia.

&quot;They&rsquo;ve crossed a line,&quot; said Eulalia L&oacute;pez, a 54-year-old office worker in Barcelona.

She said she and her colleagues would come out onto the streets if Madrid went ahead and took control of the region.

Orchestrators?

European capitals and financial markets have looked on with mounting alarm since Oct. 1, when Catalan authorities <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/catalan-president-says-independence-vote-is-valid-has-to-be-applied-20913">held a referendum</a> on independence in defiance of a Spanish court ban.

ANC leader Jordi Sanchez and Omnium chief Jordi Cuixart are accused by prosecutors of helping to orchestrate pro-independence protests that last month trapped national police inside a Barcelona building and destroyed their vehicles.

That same incident also led to Catalonia&rsquo;s police chief, Josep Lluis Trapero, being investigated for sedition. He is accused of failing to order his force to rescue them from the building. He has not been detained but the High Court banned him from leaving Spain and seized his passport.

A string of companies, including two major lenders, have decided to move their headquarters outside Catalonia since the referendum.

Spanish police launched a violent crackdown in an effort to thwart the referendum, using rubber bullets and batons on voters in scenes that shocked Spain`s European neighbours.

Catalan officials say 43 per cent of voters still managed to cast ballots with 90 percent in favour of breaking away. Many unionists, however, obeyed Madrid and did not vote.

Spain&rsquo;s constitutional court, which had suspended the referendum, said on Tuesday the law passed by the Catalan parliament to hold the vote was void because it broke dispositions of Spain&rsquo;s 1978 constitution.

One of Catalonia&rsquo;s major foreign investors, Volkswagen, said on Tuesday that its Spanish division, Seat, had decided to delay announcing the name of its forthcoming model.

Seat, based in Martorell in Catalonia, had planned to announce the name of its 2018 sport-utility vehicle this month, about a year ahead of the 7-seat model`s launch.

&quot;With the entire Spanish media focused on politics at the moment, we have decided to find a better time,&quot; a Seat spokesman said, adding the division had also delayed the announcement of an innovation and digitisation agreement. He did not elaborate.

Madrid has threatened to put Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of Spain?s economy, under direct central rule if its regional government does not abandon independence by Thursday.

Catalonia refused on Tuesday to bow to the Spanish government’s demand that it renounce a symbolic declaration of independence, setting it on a political collision course with Madrid later this week. Madrid has threatened to put Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of Spain’s economy, under direct central rule if its regional government does not abandon independence by Thursday. But Catalonia’s government rejected Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s deadline. "Giving in forms no part of this government`s scenarios," Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull said. "On Thursday, we won’t give anything different than what we gave on Monday." Spain’s biggest political crisis in decades worsened on Monday night when Madrid’s High Court jailed the heads of Catalonia's two main separatist groups pending an investigation for alleged sedition. The Catalan government accused Madrid of taking "political prisoners" and tens of thousands of protesters gathered along Barcelona’s Diagonal Avenue to call for their release. People held up lighted candles, whistled and shouted "freedom" and "out with the occupying forces". "There should not be political prisoners in a democratic country in the 21st century. This country is not democratic. I’m here to support democracy," said Alicia Cabreriza, a 26-year-old computer programmer from Barcelona. The protests ended peacefully at around 2000 GMT. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, in a tweet following the detentions, said: "Sadly, we have political prisoners again." The phrase was an allusion to the military dictatorship under Francisco Franco, when Catalan culture and language were systematically suppressed. It carries an emotional resonance given fascism is still a living memory for many Spaniards. Justice Minister Rafael Catala hit back, saying the jailing of the leaders of the separatist groups, the Catalan National Assembly and Omnium, was a judicial, not a political, decision. "We can talk of politicians in prison but not political prisoners," he said. "These are not political prisoners because yesterday’s prison ruling was due to a (suspected) crime." The crisis has deepened divisions at the heart of Spain’s young democracy, underlining the complex sense of nationhood in the euro zone’s fourth largest economy. In Madrid, unionists drape their homes in the national flag, while Barcelona apartment buildings are festooned with Catalan flags. Street protests of hundreds of thousands of people have been held on both sides of the divide, including in Catalonia. "They’ve crossed a line," said Eulalia López, a 54-year-old office worker in Barcelona. She said she and her colleagues would come out onto the streets if Madrid went ahead and took control of the region. Orchestrators? European capitals and financial markets have looked on with mounting alarm since Oct. 1, when Catalan authorities held a referendum on independence in defiance of a Spanish court ban. ANC leader Jordi Sanchez and Omnium chief Jordi Cuixart are accused by prosecutors of helping to orchestrate pro-independence protests that last month trapped national police inside a Barcelona building and destroyed their vehicles. That same incident also led to Catalonia’s police chief, Josep Lluis Trapero, being investigated for sedition. He is accused of failing to order his force to rescue them from the building. He has not been detained but the High Court banned him from leaving Spain and seized his passport. A string of companies, including two major lenders, have decided to move their headquarters outside Catalonia since the referendum. Spanish police launched a violent crackdown in an effort to thwart the referendum, using rubber bullets and batons on voters in scenes that shocked Spain`s European neighbours. Catalan officials say 43 per cent of voters still managed to cast ballots with 90 percent in favour of breaking away. Many unionists, however, obeyed Madrid and did not vote. Spain’s constitutional court, which had suspended the referendum, said on Tuesday the law passed by the Catalan parliament to hold the vote was void because it broke dispositions of Spain’s 1978 constitution. One of Catalonia’s major foreign investors, Volkswagen, said on Tuesday that its Spanish division, Seat, had decided to delay announcing the name of its forthcoming model. Seat, based in Martorell in Catalonia, had planned to announce the name of its 2018 sport-utility vehicle this month, about a year ahead of the 7-seat model`s launch. "With the entire Spanish media focused on politics at the moment, we have decided to find a better time," a Seat spokesman said, adding the division had also delayed the announcement of an innovation and digitisation agreement. He did not elaborate.

Catalonia refuses to renounce independence, separatist protesters rally

Spain&#39;s government will take control of Catalonia and rule it directly if Catalan&nbsp;leader<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/independence-decision-day-looms-for-catalan-leader-22482">&nbsp;Carles Puigdemont</a> does not&nbsp;drop&nbsp;a bid to split the region from&nbsp;Spain&nbsp;by Thursday at 1000 a.m. (0800 GMT),&nbsp;deputy&nbsp;Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said.

&quot;Mr Puigdemont still has the opportunity to start resolving this situation, he&nbsp;must&nbsp;answer &#39;yes&#39; or &#39;no&#39; to the declaration (of&nbsp;independence),&quot; Saenz de Santamaria said.

Madrid had given Puigdemont until Monday 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT) to clarify his position on independence&nbsp;with a &quot;Yes&quot; or &quot;No&quot;, but the&nbsp;Catalan&nbsp;leader&nbsp;did not directly answer the question.

Saenz de Santamaria said, "Mr Puigdemont still has the opportunity to start resolving this situation, he?must?answer 'yes' or 'no' to the declaration (of?independence)"

Spain's government will take control of Catalonia and rule it directly if Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont does not drop a bid to split the region from Spain by Thursday at 1000 a.m. (0800 GMT), deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said. "Mr Puigdemont still has the opportunity to start resolving this situation, he must answer 'yes' or 'no' to the declaration (of independence)," Saenz de Santamaria said. Madrid had given Puigdemont until Monday 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT) to clarify his position on independence with a "Yes" or "No", but the Catalan leader did not directly answer the question.

Catalan leader must drop independence by Thursday: Spain Deputy PM

Catalonia&#39;s leader Carles Puigdemont said the region won the right to break away from Spain, with his government claiming on Monday that 90 percent of voters backed independence in a banned referendum<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/catalonia-38-hurt-in-crackdown-on-independence-vote-police-fire-rubber-bullets-in-barcelona-20877"> marred by clashes</a>.

However Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy declared the Sunday plebiscite had been blocked, saying &quot;today there has not been a self-determination referendum in Catalonia,&quot; a region deeply divided over independence.

Further adding to tensions, unions and Catalan associations called a region-wide strike for Tuesday due to &quot;the grave violation of rights and freedoms,&quot; urging people to take to the streets in Catalonia, a major engine for Spanish growth.

At least 92 people were confirmed injured out of a total of 844 who needed medical attention, Catalan authorities said, as police cracked down on a vote Spain&#39;s central government branded a &quot;farce&quot;.

The interior ministry said 33 police required treatment as a result of the clashes.

The violence raised alarm abroad and further heightened tensions between Rajoy&#39;s government and the authorities in Catalonia in the worst political crisis in Spain in decades.

Rajoy called the vote a process that &quot;only served to sow division, push citizens to confrontation and the streets to revolt&quot;, but left the door potentially open to negotiations on greater autonomy for the region.

The referendum was organised under the threat of reprisals and criminal charges but thousands of Catalans stood in defiance of the central government crying &quot;Votarem&quot; -- &quot;We will vote&quot;.

Puigdemont, who governs Catalonia, said in an address after polls closed: &quot;With this day of hope and suffering, the citizens of Catalonia have won the right to an independent state in the form of a republic.&quot;

He urged the European Union to stop looking &quot;the other way&quot; following the police crackdown.

In a press briefing, regional government spokesman Jordi Turull said 2.02 million Catalans voted for independence, or a 42.3 percent turnout.

He said that represented &quot;90 percent&quot; of the votes cast, while 7.8 percent said &quot;no&quot; to the question: &quot;Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic?&quot;

A further two percent cast a blank vote, he added, and 0.5 percent of ballots were void.

Camped inside overnight 
 
From early in the day, helmeted police armed with batons moved in en masse to seal off polling stations and seize ballot boxes, sparking clashes.

Videos posted on social media showed police dragging voters from polling stations by their hair, throwing people down stairs and attacking Catalan firefighters who were protecting polling stations.

&quot;They took the ballot boxes by force... and they literally yanked them from us as we continued to sing &quot;&#39;Els Segadors&quot;, the Catalan hymn, and shouting &quot;long live democracy&quot;,&quot; said Marc Carrasco, in charge at one Barcelona polling station.

The referendum law foresees a declaration of independence soon after a &quot;Yes&quot; vote but it remains unclear if the regional government will actually do so.

Even before the vote, judicial officials ordered police to seize ballot papers, detain key organisers and shut down websites promoting the referendum after Madrid and the courts deemed it unconstitutional.

Thousands of people had gathered outside polling stations before dawn, joining those who had spent the night camped inside to ensure they would be open on the day.

In central Barcelona, riot police charged at demonstrators who were sitting on the ground at a polling station, and fired rubber bullets, witnesses said.

&#39;Unjustified violence&#39; &nbsp; 
 
Riot police also stormed a polling station near Girona, smashing the glass doors of the sports centre where Puigdemont was due to vote and cutting a chain to force their way in.&nbsp;

But the regional government said Puigdemont had managed to vote anyway in nearby Cornella del Terri.

The crackdown drew a sharp rebuke from Catalan leaders and others including Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party.&nbsp;

The trouble caused Barcelona football club to play its La Liga tie against Las Palmas behind closed doors after the Spanish league refused to postpone the match.

But in several areas, voting was peaceful.

Under a sea of umbrellas outside a school in Barcelona, a crowd gathered, among them elderly people in wheelchairs, families with buggies and parents clutching toddlers by the hand.&nbsp;

With no police in sight, they were able to cast their ballots, prompting scenes of jubilation.&nbsp;

&quot;I&#39;ve voted! I&#39;ve voted,&quot; one man shouted.&nbsp;

&quot;That&#39;s the great hope, to be able to vote freely like this despite the problems we&#39;ve faced, I&#39;m very happy. I can die peacefully,&quot; added Jose Mas Ribas, 79.

Overtaxed, underfunded 
 
Although Catalans are divided over independence, most want to vote on the matter in a legal and binding plebiscite.

Although Catalonia already has significant control over education, healthcare and welfare, the region says it pays more in taxes than it receives from Madrid.

This has sparked resentment which has been further exacerbated by Spain&#39;s economic woes and helped push the secessionist cause.

Catalonia's leader Carles Puigdemont said the region won the right to break away from Spain

Catalonia's leader Carles Puigdemont said the region won the right to break away from Spain, with his government claiming on Monday that 90 percent of voters backed independence in a banned referendum marred by clashes. However Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy declared the Sunday plebiscite had been blocked, saying "today there has not been a self-determination referendum in Catalonia," a region deeply divided over independence. Further adding to tensions, unions and Catalan associations called a region-wide strike for Tuesday due to "the grave violation of rights and freedoms," urging people to take to the streets in Catalonia, a major engine for Spanish growth. At least 92 people were confirmed injured out of a total of 844 who needed medical attention, Catalan authorities said, as police cracked down on a vote Spain's central government branded a "farce". The interior ministry said 33 police required treatment as a result of the clashes. The violence raised alarm abroad and further heightened tensions between Rajoy's government and the authorities in Catalonia in the worst political crisis in Spain in decades. Rajoy called the vote a process that "only served to sow division, push citizens to confrontation and the streets to revolt", but left the door potentially open to negotiations on greater autonomy for the region. The referendum was organised under the threat of reprisals and criminal charges but thousands of Catalans stood in defiance of the central government crying "Votarem" -- "We will vote". Puigdemont, who governs Catalonia, said in an address after polls closed: "With this day of hope and suffering, the citizens of Catalonia have won the right to an independent state in the form of a republic." He urged the European Union to stop looking "the other way" following the police crackdown. In a press briefing, regional government spokesman Jordi Turull said 2.02 million Catalans voted for independence, or a 42.3 percent turnout. He said that represented "90 percent" of the votes cast, while 7.8 percent said "no" to the question: "Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic?" A further two percent cast a blank vote, he added, and 0.5 percent of ballots were void. Camped inside overnight From early in the day, helmeted police armed with batons moved in en masse to seal off polling stations and seize ballot boxes, sparking clashes. Videos posted on social media showed police dragging voters from polling stations by their hair, throwing people down stairs and attacking Catalan firefighters who were protecting polling stations. "They took the ballot boxes by force... and they literally yanked them from us as we continued to sing "'Els Segadors", the Catalan hymn, and shouting "long live democracy"," said Marc Carrasco, in charge at one Barcelona polling station. The referendum law foresees a declaration of independence soon after a "Yes" vote but it remains unclear if the regional government will actually do so. Even before the vote, judicial officials ordered police to seize ballot papers, detain key organisers and shut down websites promoting the referendum after Madrid and the courts deemed it unconstitutional. Thousands of people had gathered outside polling stations before dawn, joining those who had spent the night camped inside to ensure they would be open on the day. In central Barcelona, riot police charged at demonstrators who were sitting on the ground at a polling station, and fired rubber bullets, witnesses said. 'Unjustified violence' Riot police also stormed a polling station near Girona, smashing the glass doors of the sports centre where Puigdemont was due to vote and cutting a chain to force their way in. But the regional government said Puigdemont had managed to vote anyway in nearby Cornella del Terri. The crackdown drew a sharp rebuke from Catalan leaders and others including Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party. The trouble caused Barcelona football club to play its La Liga tie against Las Palmas behind closed doors after the Spanish league refused to postpone the match. But in several areas, voting was peaceful. Under a sea of umbrellas outside a school in Barcelona, a crowd gathered, among them elderly people in wheelchairs, families with buggies and parents clutching toddlers by the hand. With no police in sight, they were able to cast their ballots, prompting scenes of jubilation. "I've voted! I've voted," one man shouted. "That's the great hope, to be able to vote freely like this despite the problems we've faced, I'm very happy. I can die peacefully," added Jose Mas Ribas, 79. Overtaxed, underfunded Although Catalans are divided over independence, most want to vote on the matter in a legal and binding plebiscite. Although Catalonia already has significant control over education, healthcare and welfare, the region says it pays more in taxes than it receives from Madrid. This has sparked resentment which has been further exacerbated by Spain's economic woes and helped push the secessionist cause.

Catalan leader threatens independence after winning 90% of vote