The Spanish government has suspended Catalonia’s autonomy and will introduce direct rule from next Saturday as the country sinks further into its worst constitutional crisis since the restoration of democracy in 1977. “We are not ending Catalan autonomy, but we are relieving of their duties those who have acted outside the law,” Rajoy said, without detailing which Catalan institutions would come under direct rule. In Catalonia and Spain we’re all asking: what have we done to deserve this? Thousands of demonstrators are expected to take to the streets later on Saturday to protest against the imposition of direct rule. Puigdemont will then cease to be Catalan president, but he has a week’s grace during which he could stave off direct rule by calling elections.

Source: The Guardian October 21, 2017 08:07 UTC