President of the Catalan parliament Carme Forcadell, center, gathers to discuss with parliament representatives their next move after Spanish government announced plans to remove members of the region’s pro-independence government, at the Catalonia Parliament, in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Oct. 23, 2017. (Manu Fernandez/Associated Press)BARCELONA, Spain — Catalonia’s regional parliament plans to hold a debate this week on the Spanish prime minister’s plan to take direct control of the region — a session many fear could lead to a vote declaring Catalan independence. The president of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, asked regional lawmakers to debate options for responding to the takeover moves announced Saturday by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Firing all Catalan top officials and calling an early regional election are among the steps the prime minister wants to take with the constitutional authority. In Madrid, Spain’s political parties designated 27 senators to study the government’s request to activate the Constitution’s Article 155.

Source: Washington Post October 23, 2017 08:28 UTC