Unionists call on Spanish government to prepare for more direct rule of Catalonia

Ciudadanos party leader wants suspension of Catalan self-rule to return should Torra executive fail to comply with Constitution

Leader of the opposition Inés Arrimadas (by ACN)
Leader of the opposition Inés Arrimadas (by ACN) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

August 21, 2018 01:03 PM

The main unionist party in Catalonia has called on the Spanish government to make the necessary preparations to reimpose direct rule on the country, after Catalan president Quim Torra talked on Friday of the need to “attack the State.”

On Wednesday, the party leader in Catalonia, Inés Arrimadas, called on Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, to begin the process to activate Article 155 of the Constitution, allowing direct rule to be imposed again.

Spain’s Senate approved the application of Article 155 and the suspension of Catalonia’s self-rule in October, following a declaration of independence in Parliament. Catalonia remained under control from Madrid until a new Catalan government was sworn in in June.